A Wife by Accident

Victoria Ashe

A WIFE BY ACCIDENT

Copyright © 2011 by Victoria Ashe

All rights reserved. No part of thisbook may be used or reproduced in anyway by any means without the writtenpermission of the publisher, except inthe case of brief quotations embodied incritical articles and reviews.

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their work.

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Black Lyon Publishing, LLC

PO Box 567

Baker City, OR 97814

This is a work of fiction. All ofthe characters, names, events,organizations and conversations in thisnovel are either the products of theauthor’s vivid imagination or are used in

a fictitious way for the purposes of thisstory.

ISBN-10: 1-934912-35-2

ISBN-13: 978-1-934912-35-5

Library of Congress Control Number:2011921967

Written, published and printed inthe United States of America.

Black Lyon ContemporaryRomance

For inspirations.

Chapter One

"I hate my job." Hayely Black clenchedher fist around a tangle of clotheshangers. She twirled the latest additionto her boss’ considerable wardrobe outof the front seat and onto her arm.

"I hate my job," she repeated to

herself as she struggled to balance astack of oversized boxes on the otherarm.

"And—" She paused and bumpedthe rickety car door shut with her hip. "Ihate my job."

She couldn’t even see to walk,much less put one foot in front of theother safely. She just knew if she felland broke a leg carrying out Kathy L.Mark’s errands, the woman wouldprobably fire her for lookingunprofessional with a cast that didn’tmatch her skirt.

Hayely struggled with the boxes asa gust of wind threatened to knock them

out of her hands. No, a year ago shewould have never taken a job workingfor a woman like Kathy. But if she had tochoose between putting up with theabuse to keep a steady paycheck orrunning back home with her tail betweenher legs—well, she couldn’t evenconsider the latter.

With the packages precariouslybalanced, she took a few more babysteps, peered out from behind the stack,and moved cautiously forward. So far,so good. Now if she could just make itaround the corner and inside to theelevator, someone in the office would nodoubt see her and help.

Hayely took a step forward and

then another, when the impact ofsomething very large and hard slammedagainst her. The next thing she knew, theboxes went flying up, hitting her in theface as they fell. The force of whatevershe’d just run into pushed her backwardwith the packages and she wobbled atopher high heels before finally catching herbalance.

The overpriced clothing was stilldraped over her arm. Good. Shebreathed in deeply. At least she hadn’tdropped that. She looked down at theground in front of her. The lids on theboxes had held tight. This was her luckyday, she thought, and then her gaze froze.

A pair of well-worn, brownleather work boots with rugged blacksoles caught her eye. The realizationstruck her that this was no wall she’d runinto at all. Almost afraid to see who waswearing those boots, she tucked herchocolate-brown hair back behind herear and slowly took in the crisp newjeans. Hayely’s heart pounded furiously.

"I’m so sorry. It was an accident. Icouldn’t see you." She panicked andstarted to take a step back. She’d startedto feel bad about plowing over somepoor man until she saw the collisionhadn’t budged him an inch. A wall, sherealized, would have experienced aboutthe same level of damage.

He put his hands out with hispalms facing her. "Don’t—"

"Really, I didn’t mean to."

Was he going to grab her? She’dheard about criminals targeting womenwho didn’t look like they could get awayquickly. And Kathy’s boxes had ensuredthat. She took another step of retreat.

"—back up," he finished.

Horrified, Hayely looked down ather feet. Somehow her attacker theorybegan to slip away the second that awfulgrinding, popping noise sounded fromunder her shoe. She grimaced visibly.

"Not much for listening, are you?"

Hayely lifted her foot and staredblankly at the crushed pile of goldenmetal and glass on the pavement. "Thinkthere’s any chance a little supergluemight do the trick?" She couldn’t bringherself to look him in the face.

"That was a twelve-thousand-dollar watch."

Hayely’s pulse raced. Twelvethousand dollars? That was almost half ayear’s salary to her. If she were thefainting kind, she’d have been flat on theground next to the remains of the watch.The man’s voice held a quiet rumble ofpower in it, as if when he used that tone

there was no doubt he would talk hisway into getting exactly what he wanted.His voice reminded her of a river,rushing deep and strong around bouldersin its path, wearing them away slowly.

"You’re kidding? You haveinsurance for it? I hope." She closed hereyes as he approached her. Please lethim be insured.

"I just bought it five minutes ago.So, no. There’s no insurance." He heldout a receipt for an item that cost a sumwith more zeros on the end than shecared to count.

Hayely opened her eyes andlooked from the piece of paper up to his

face. He didn’t seem as angry as shewould have been in his place. Shechecked to see if his lips were clenchedtogether into a tight line. The way a manheld his mouth could reveal his emotions—thank goodness this particular man’smouth still seemed relaxed. The cornersof it even turned up just a bit. His hazeleyes didn’t looked crazed with furyeither, but he certainly wasn’t letting herescape his narrowed gaze.

"And I knocked it out of your handand stepped on it?"

He nodded.

"You didn’t just drop it? It wasn’talready broken?"

He shook his head the other wayand crossed his arms over his plaid-shirted chest.

She ran her hand over herforehead and felt a tiny indentationwhere the corner of the box had found itsmark. "Well, I don’t know what to doabout it."

He unfolded his arms. "You couldtry offering to pay me back for starters."

"Look, Mr.—"

"Tarleton. Gary Tarleton." Heheld out his hand to shake hers.

Hayely took his hand and was

surprised his touch comforted her,finishing off her nagging fears of beingmugged. In fact, her insides did a funnylittle flip-flop as she felt the warm skinand rough calluses brush against herfingers.

"I’m Hayely Black and there’s noway on God’s green earth I’ll be able topay that much money back. I just don’thave those kinds of funds at myfingertips anymore."

"Don’t you have a job?" Garyasked in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Ever see what an executiveassistant makes?" she asked.

"You’re a secretary then. Can’tyou get a higher paying job?" Hisarrogant expression told her it ought tobe simple for her to just run out to thenearest company and take over the keysto the executive washroom.

"What do you think? I have exactlyone month of work experience to myname, and I had to start somewhere."

She hadn’t meant to run into him.She hadn’t meant to break his watch.And he wanted to lecture her on careeradvancement? What was she? A magnetfor people who wanted to launch intothis subject? This guy would get alonggreat with her father.

Gary scraped his hand across hisrough, stubble-covered chin. "Monthlyinstallments then."

Hayely shook her head and thoughtof the two-weeks-past-due electricitybill on her kitchen table. "My paycheckbarely covers the bills. I have to eat, too,you know." Of course he didn’t know.The man bought twelve-thousand-dollarwatches.

"How about getting a loan?"

"No collateral," she countered.

"From a family member?"

"Definitely not."

If she ran back to her family forhelp with anything, her father wouldhave her married to a wealthy old-money millionaire and registered forHarvard medical school before shecould blink. She could hardly imagineanything she was less interested in.

"Do you have any better ideasthen?" That gentle, gruff roll in his voicetold Hayely that the man—Gary was stillcalm. Maybe twelve thousand dollarswasn’t all that important to him after all.

Hayely shook her head miserablyand her shoulder-length brown hairslipped out from behind her ears. "No.I’m all out of ideas."

Gary stood and scrutinized her fora moment. "In this job of yours, I assumeyou do some supply ordering, someshopping?" he finally asked.

"Yes. Why?"

He ignored her question. "How’syour sense of style?" He surveyed hersuit and saw that it matched her shoes,which was good enough for him. Hermakeup was applied with some subtleclass, too. He took that as a sign of goodtaste.

"I’m alright with colors and such,if that’s what you mean."

"Are you responsible?"

"Usually. I mean, yes. Look, Idon’t want to get personal with you. Ijust want to figure out what I can do tomake it up to you for breaking yourwatch."

Gary smirked, turning one cornerof his mouth up just a little more. He ranhis fingers through his already unrulybrown hair. "You’ll do."

"I’ll do what?"

If he thought she’d trade her bodyfor forgiveness of a debt, theNeanderthal had another thing coming.The way he was looking her up anddown, it wouldn’t surprise her if hesuggested it.

Gary fell silent again. He walkedover to her side and examined herhairstyle. Her sleek, unlayered hair andsoft bangs gave her an air of simplesophistication. She kept herself in goodshape and wore an understated suit thatwouldn’t draw any unwanted attention.He ran his hand over his dark stubbleagain as he looked back to her face.

"Nice features. Well spoken.Slight attitude, but he could overlookthat," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"You’ll definitely do. What I needis someone presentable, someone I’mnot likely to become attracted to, though.

Fewer complications that way. I can’tafford any distractions for a while."

"Again—what?" Forget she’d justbroken his precious watch. Hayelythought she had a perfect right to beangry now.

First this stranger, this irritatingGary Tarleton person, assessed her as ifhe were pricing livestock and then hadthe nerve to call her unattractive? Sheknew she was no supermodel, but shewas a far cry from ugly. Where did heget off? She was about to tell him justwhat she thought of his personality whenhe spoke again.

"Here’s the deal. I need two things

in life right now - a temporary wife andan interior decorator. No questionsasked. You’ll have to furnish and fix upthe inside of my new house from floor toceiling and show up for a few meetingsand dinners where I’ll introduce you asMrs. Tarleton. I don’t wantconversation. I don’t want a friend. Justa business deal."

Hayely had no trouble meeting hisgaze now. Was the man insane? Shethought for a second that he was somedesperate, middle-aged constructionworker making a play for her. But whatkind of construction worker could affordto plunk down twelve grand on a pieceof jewelry?

Besides, after really looking athim, she could tell he wasn’t more than afew years older than her—probably inhis early thirties at best. He didn’t haveany wrinkles except for creases ofscrutiny at the corners of his narrowedeyes, and only one or two grey hairsmixed in with that scruffy stubble of his.He might have been good-looking if hisexpression wasn’t so terribly serious.

She took in a gulp of air. "Huh?"Disbelief blocked her words.

"I’m offering you a job. So youcan pay off the watch."

Just a month ago Hayely hadpacked her bags, loaded up her car and

started driving—all to avoid a life and ajob someone else had picked out for her.But here she was, back between anotherdevil and another deep blue sea.

"I got as far as you needingsomeone to decorate your house. That Icould do. But marry you like that? That’snot even legal, is it?"

Gary narrowed his sparkling hazeleyes at her again. "I’m talking about asix-month commitment at best. Acontract arrangement, binding and legal.You can come over after work or onweekends. I don’t care when you workor how many hours it takes to get theplace finished. I just want it done well.If it is, we’ll call it even for the watch."

Six months? Hayely could feel theadrenalin surging through her blood.Could she agree to something sobizarre? Six months would buy back herindependence, buy her way out of thissituation … Her family didn’t need tofind out about the marriage part, didthey?

She raised her chin high to look athim directly. "What if I don’t agree?"There. What would he say to that?

The corners of his mouth lifted uphigher—almost imperceptibly so, butdefinitely higher. If she’d known who hewas, he was sure Hayely Black wouldhave jumped at the chance. Every other

money-hungry female in town wouldhave, which was exactly why hecouldn’t ask any of them. Too manys t r i n g s attached, too manycomplications.

"I’m glad you’re so entertained,"she said when he didn’t respond.

"Your eyes look like shiny smokewhen you get all emotional. Never seenpure grey eyes before."

"Drop dead."

Gary shrugged his considerableshoulders and hooked his thumbs into hispockets. "We could always walk downto the police station. It’s just a couple

blocks away."

Hayely ran her hand across herforehead again and looked at the pile ofpulverized watch. There was really noway she could imagine repairing thething. The wind had already started toblow little bits of shattered glass and thewatch’s tiny inner workings across theparking lot. She cursed that husky, quietvoice of his. She’d walked right into histrap.

Gary tilted his head a little to theside. "Good. I’ll take your silence as ayes. Do you have a business card?"

She fumbled inside her purse andhanded him one of the company’s little

sticky notes with her office address onit. Writing her name and phone extensionon it, she moved in slow motion as ifshe’d slipped into automatic pilot modesomewhere under his gaze. What wasshe doing? She simply couldn’t seeanother way out of an expensive mess.

"I’ll have someone courier over anagreement. Read it. Sign it."

He tucked her card into his shirtpocket with a frown and walked offacross the parking lot with his big bootsclunking on the pavement. He didn’teven turn his head to look back.

•

"I’m going to fire some idiot thisweek. I just haven’t decided who yet."Kathy L. Mark stopped in front ofHayely’s desk and tossed a thickenvelope onto it. "Maybe it’ll besomeone who receives personaldeliveries on company time."

With a saccharine smile she turnedon her heel and walked off down thehall. Kathy always dressed in petite,tailored suits and worried openly abouther thinning, anemic blonde hair, whichshe kept short enough to just brush theback of her neck. At sixty, she stillfancied herself a traffic stopper. Hayelysuspected that Kathy hadn’t been anygreat beauty even in her prime.

Unkind thoughts were easy for herto have in that office. At least once aweek, she and the rest of the staffsuffered through Kathy’s threats to fireone of them. Hayely looked daggers atGary Tarleton’s package, anonymouslysent via a nearby law firm, on the deskin front of her. It had just turned her intoKathy’s target of the week. It wasHayely’s typical luck that the ever-hostile woman had happened to walkthrough the reception area just as thecourier arrived.

Hayely’s workday had ended atfive o’clock and it was already a quarterafter. Did she dare leave so soon? She’dseen Kathy’s wrath when an employee

didn’t donate an extra half an hour bothmorning and evening. But the envelopescreamed to be opened. She thought shecould actually feel it speaking to herfingertips.

Hayely scooped up her coat andpurse, and had barely gotten into theelevator before she tore open thepackage. A local attorney had drawn upthe paperwork and it all looked verylegal and straightforward. Could sheactually sign it? If she did, a strangesituation would become frighteninglyofficial.

She finished reading the documentin her car and froze when she got to thelast page. Gary Tarleton had drawn up

the agreement exactly as he’d saidexcept for that last paragraph. Withunsteady fingers, she turned off her carradio so she could concentrate.

"An extra ten thousand dollars?"Her hands started shaking as she reacheddeep into the envelope and retrieved thekey to Gary Tarleton’s house. "Oh, Lordhave mercy. He’s added a bonus."

With that much money she couldmaintain her independence, resign fromK. L. Mark Enterprises, and actually finda job she enjoyed. Who knew? Maybeshe was fated to become an interiordesigner and this was the universe’s wayof showing her. And all it would take

was six months of acting like GaryTarleton’s wife. How bad could thatreally be?

With a tremble, she took a rollerball pen from her purse and signed hername plain as day in indelible blue ink.

Chapter Two

Hayely put the key Gary had sent her intothe lock of his front door. She didn’tthink anyone was home yet—the placewas far too quiet. She’d driven aroundthe block several times before finallyworking up the courage to turn into hislong, winding driveway.

The address matched the one onthe note he’d sent, but she must havemade a mistake somewhere along theline. This creation of light greystonework and colorful stained glasswasn’t a house; it came closer to being acastle, one with so much land behind itthat she knew she was entering akingdom.

Hayely walked up the grandcement stairs and gave the key a firmtwist. To her amazement, the big woodendoors yawned open at her touch. Shewalked in and shut the doors behind herwith a thud and click that echoed throughthe empty foyer.

"Anybody home?" she called and

was greeted only with the sound of herown voice coming back to her. Shewondered where anyone who lived in aplace like this usually went on aSaturday morning. Probably on a jet tourof Europe, she supposed.

There wasn’t a stick of furniture asfar as she could see. An enormousstaircase spiraled upward in front of herand the marble floor of the entrywaymade her afraid to step on it. Therewasn’t so much as a throw rug or a leafygreen houseplant to decorate the place.She kicked her shoes off to the side. Shehoped more than anything that shewouldn’t be expected to do all thehousekeeping, too.

"It’s no wonder he needed adecorator," she whispered to herself asshe craned her neck back to look up atthe high ceiling.

"It’s high time, too. The place hasbeen empty a couple of months now.We’d both like to stop eating off ofcardboard boxes."

"I didn’t think anyone was here."Her hand flew to her chest. She turned tosee a slender man with striking auburnhair leaning against the wall underneathone of the massive stained glasswindows. He gave her a pleasant smile,a genuine greeting without hesitation.

"I’m Charlie," he said as he shook

her hand. "I sort of help Gary out withthings. He told me to expect you. The uh—minister should be here any time now.Guess I’m the witness, huh?"

Hayely swallowed hard. "Iimagine it’s better just to get it overwith." She reminded herself that she hadentered a business deal—a verylucrative one if she could just getthrough the next few minutes. She shookher head at her own thoughts. What hadshe expected anyway? Flowers, gifts anda reception? A honeymoon withchampagne and chocolates? Not in herlifetime, she’d bet. And especially not inthis strange situation she’d managed toget herself into.

Charlie looked at her withsympathy. "I tried to talk him out of this,but it’s really the only way we couldcome up with."

"The only way for what? I knowwhy I’m here. I just don’t know why heis. I don’t even know who he is for thatmatter."

"You don’t know who GaryTarleton is? Don’t you ever read anewspaper or turn on the local news?"

A peculiar twist caught Hayely’sinsides. Maybe she was biting off morethan she could chew. She could live onmacaroni and cheese, have the telephoneturned off, sell those diamond earrings

she’d gotten three birthdays ago—shemight be able to make monthly paymentsthat way.

"I just moved here to Nevada afew weeks ago. Am I supposed to knowwho he is?"

Charlie studied her for a momentand made a surprised sound high in histhroat. "No, I guess not."

They turned toward the sound ofthe front door opening again. Hayelyhadn’t seen Gary since the unfortunateincident with the watch, and maybe herpanic and embarrassment had cloudedher first impression of him. He was alarger man than she’d remembered. Tall

and confident, he had the kind of smoothmuscles earned from hard, honest workrather than evenings spent at a gym. Thedifference was easy to tell—her fatherhad tried to set her up with enough card-carrying gym members.

Gary wiped his hands off on hisalready dirty jeans and tucked in hiswhite T-shirt. Her first thought that hewas a construction worker sprung tomind again. He was certainly looking thepart right about then. If it was possible,his chin was covered with even morestubble than before. Hayely couldn’tbelieve a man would grow a beard thatlooked that unkempt on purpose. Heeven had dust on his eyelashes.

"Got delayed at the Turner site."He turned a guarded expression towardHayely and smiled wryly. She’d worn acasual white cotton dress that wasbuttoned tightly from the neckline andcontinued in a row of buttons all the wayaround her narrow waist. The demurelyflowing skirt fell to her ankles.

His gaze rested on her pretty face."At least you look the part of the bride.Good. Best to be believable."

A small, balding man withrounded glasses appeared in thedoorway behind Gary. "I was sosurprised to get Mr. Tarleton’s call," hesaid. "Such an honor to be asked intoyour home. Ah, you must be the future

Mrs. Tarleton."

The minister crossed the floor toHayely and took both of her hands in his."You’re lovely. Just lovely. It’s nowonder he wanted to snap you up soquickly. Are you ready to begin theceremony?"

What had she gotten herself into?This was too much. Vows? She’d hopedto bypass the formalities and just signthe marriage certificate. She wasn’t sureshe could choke out wedding vows tothis man she’d really only just met.Monthly payments. Somehow she’dscrape by and figure out a way to sendhim something each month. Something.

Anything. Even it if took twenty years topay him off.

•

Gary narrowed his eyes as hewatched Hayely freeze on the spot. Thegirl was absolutely terrified, he realized.Every muscle in her body had visiblystiffened. He shouldn’t have put her inthis position. She wasn’t a money-drivencorporate shark built to handle this sortof deal. For a moment he toyed withletting her off the hook.

He studied her soft, pretty face andwhite dress. No, he needed someoneexactly like her in this role. There wasno way around it. This arrangement was

the only way he could keep the promisehe’d made years and years ago, andGary Tarleton always kept his wordregardless of the cost.

He walked over and put his heavyarm around her small shoulders and gaveher a quick squeeze. "She’s a littlenervous. Why don’t we begin now?" hesuggested.

The minister smiled and frownedever so slightly. "Don’t you want tochange clothes first?" He pushed hisround glasses up higher on his nose onlyto have them slip down again as soon ashe moved his hand away.

Gary shook his head. "We’d better

start with the ‘I do’s’ now, I think." Hestood at her side and smiled innocentlyat the minister. Just get it done withalready.

Hayely leaned in closer to him.Her warm body felt good there, madehim feel like he could give her all thingssecure and safe. She looked so smallbeside him that he had no doubt he couldcatch and hold her with one hand if herknees gave way.

She didn’t look any more alertthan a zombie as her lips formed apromise of marriage. He knew she couldscarcely believe the sounds werecoming from her own mouth. He couldn’tbelieve it either. The world blurred and

then cleared when Gary took her hand inhis and slipped the wedding ring ontoher trembling finger.

What sorts of lightning boltswould God use to strike him down forthis? he wondered.

She held out her hand and stared atthe platinum band looped with shinydiamonds, and all at once it was as if hersenses came sailing back to her. Shetouched the ring gingerly and jumped asif the metal had shocked her, but thenGary slid his hand over hers again.

"You may kiss the bride," theminister finished.

Gary turned Hayely around to him,tucked his finger underneath her chin andraised her face to his. Darn if she wasn’tprettier than he remembered. Thoseglossy grey eyes full of fear anduncertainty made him want to gather herinto his arms and apologize for evermeeting her. But Hayely came completewith other distractions that interestedhim more at the moment. Her red rosepetal lips begged to be kissed and helowered his mouth dutifully to hers.

•

Hayely wasn’t prepared for thejolt that leapt through her body. She’dbeen kissed before, longer and morepassionately than this and by men she’d

actually known for more than a fewdays. But this kiss, this delicate brush ofGary Tarleton’s lips against hers, sent ashock through her. Consorting with theenemy, came the sudden thought.

"I’ll see my way out," the ministersaid as he pushed his little round glasseshigher up on his nose for the secondtime. "I can see you two want to bealone."

"You do that," Gary answeredwithout breaking the contact his gaze hadfound with Hayely’s. Her lips were onlyinches away. If he wanted to, he had theperfect excuse to kiss her again beforeshe slipped away into business partner

status again.

Hayely waited until the man withhis little round glasses had disappearedthrough the doorway before she took astep back from Gary.

"What exactly was that supposedto be?"

Gary’s eyebrows rose at the angrytone in her voice. "It’s traditional to kissthe bride. The minister would havewondered if we hadn’t."

"Well, my lips weren’t part of thedeal."

"A believable, make-believe wife

is," he countered with a lopsided grin.

"Yeah? And how believable is agroom with three days worth of stubbleand a T-shirt?"

"Charlie’ll show you the ropes,"he called as he turned and walkedabruptly out of the house.

Hayely felt something akin tobewilderment as Gary left. Downrightrude. That’s what he was. One minute hewas kissing her, the next minuteannoying her—and then suddenly shewas watching the door shut directlybehind the seat of his jeans.

Charlie rested his hand on her

shoulder and brought her back to thepresent. "Ready to get to work?" heasked.

She nodded. "I think that would bebest."

"Great." Charlie smiled. "Let’sstart with the tour."

Charlie led Hayely around the firstfloor of the mansion. She lost count ofhow many rooms there were, but shedistinctly remembered an exercise room,library with shelves built from floor toceiling, an amazing blue-tiled indoorswimming pool, and a kitchen loadedwith shiny, copper-colored appliancesthat any world-class chef would drool

over …

They took the winding staircase tothe second floor where Charlie said thebedrooms and bathrooms were. Everyword he spoke echoed back to them.Gary’s room, an enormous masterbedroom, had only a mattress placed flaton the floor, but the possibilities wereendless.

Hayely could imagine a set ofgossamer, cream-colored curtainsflowing against the ornate glass doorsthat opened up onto a high balcony. Nottoo frilly, but not so masculine as toweigh down the atmosphere. Theadjoining bathroom with its round blackmarble tub was distinctly male, though.

It screamed for thick terrycloth towelswith a GT monogram embroidered ingold at their ends. She knew just whereto buy those.

"So what do you think?" Charlieasked with an eager tone in his voice.

"I think I’m going to have the besttime decorating this place. What’s mybudget?" For the first moment in the pastfew months, she was actually lookingforward to something in her life. It wasenough to almost push the earlier part ofthe morning out of her mind for a time.

"Budget?" Charlie laughed outloud. "There is no budget. Gary hasaccounts everywhere with your name

already added to them." He handed her acredit card, which also had her name onit in metallic raised letters. "There’s nocredit limit on this one. Gary wants onlythe best in this house."

"That could cost an arm and a legand probably the other leg, too." Hayelycouldn’t take her eyes off the credit card.She’d expected to see her last name,Black, imprinted there. But instead itread clear as crystal: "Hayely Tarleton."It seemed Gary had thought of everydetail to make the charade seem real tothe outside world.

"How did he get the credit card sofast?"

Charlie smiled at her. "You reallydon’t have a clue who Gary Tarleton is,do you?"

"Oh, I’m getting a hint. But I’malso starting to get the feeling I havesome research to do." She looked in aweup to the high ceiling as she steppedback down the staircase. Whoever hewas, he apparently carved out acomfortable living for himself. Hishouse was straight out of one of thosefantasy home shows on cable television.

"Gary says that if you can’t findexactly the right furniture locally, youshould feel free to travel or buy it off theInternet. You have complete creativefreedom. Gary is the master of

delegation. I think it’s one of the secretsof his success—that he just instinctivelyknows what people are good at. Take mefor example. When we met almosttwenty years ago in the—"

Charlie had definitely piquedHayely’s curiosity. "In the what?" sheasked, urging him to continue. She justmight start her research on Gary rightthen and there with Charlie.

Charlie waved his handdismissively. "Never mind. I’ve said toomuch already and it’s not my place togive away Gary’s secrets. Just know thathe’s a good man, and he always honorshis deals."

"Is he always so aloof? He’sbarely said two words to me since Ismashed his watch. And I have towonder what kind of man feelscomfortable with an arrangement like wehave now."

Charlie looked at her quizzically.He was used to women asking how muchGary’s fortune was really worth or whathe desired in a woman so that they couldmold themselves into whateverdescription Charlie gave. He’d had quitea good laugh watching reactions towhatever wild tale he created in amoment of humor.

Once he’d told someone that Garyloved to see women wear pink, and for

the longest time that was the only colorany eligible female in town would wear.Little did they know that Gary hated the"foofy" color. But never once over theyears had any of them asked anythingpersonal about Gary, and never once hadany of them looked as openly sincere asHayely Black. Would that change aftershe found out more about Gary?

"Don’t take it personally," hefinally said. "Gary watches people.Don’t mistake silence for lack ofinterest. He’s quite the charmer once hegets to know someone."

"And how much time does thatusually take? To get to know him, I

mean." The thought of tiptoeing oneggshells around Gary Tarleton for sixmonths wasn’t something Hayely thoughtshe could endure without at least tryingto learn something of the man. Herfriendly nature would get in the way.

"Honestly?" Charlie asked. "Idon’t think you’d be able to do it withinyour six months. Then again you might.Who really knows the dark mind of GaryTarleton?" He chuckled to himself.

"Well, I suppose I’ll have to giveup on the idea of friendliness then. But,for the sake of the show, you’d bettergive me some basics. For starters,what’s his usual schedule? I’d like toknow when to be out of the way."

"He works pretty much every day.He’s up at sunrise and home late. Butyou have a key, so come and go as youplease."

"Does he have any favorites?Colors? Furniture styles? Fabrics?"Hayely was at a loss. How could shedecorate a mansion when she didn’teven know the owner’s taste? Thenagain, she wasn’t even sure she could dothe job in the first place. She was anexecutive assistant with a college degreeshe’d never put to use if she could helpit.

"I don’t think he’d take the time tocare about most of those things. Except,

I’d avoid pink if I were you."

"Ok, no pink then. Can you at leasttell me which room he uses the most?"

Charlie’s blue eyes lighted up."That one I can answer. His den. Hespends a lot of time there."

"That would be the room with thecard table and a folding chair?"

Charlie nodded with a grin.

"Then that’s where I’ll begin."

Hayely smiled brilliantly. Shecouldn’t wait to get started on hernewfound project. She’d just received

an exclusive catalog in the mail from oneof the finest furniture makers in Vermont,a store her mother used to frequent.Would they ship all the way to Nevada?There was only one way to find out.

•

Hayely’s Sunday couldn’t havebegun better. Already she’d placed anextravagant furniture order for Gary’sden. With enough exquisitely carvedmahogany and leather to fill the room,she couldn’t wait for the shipment toarrive. She hadn’t actually seen Garysince the day before when they’dfinalized their agreement—she couldn’tbring herself to think of it as herwedding day.

With paintbrush in hand, shestretched high on the ladder to reach thetop corner of the den wall near the emptybookshelves. She’d chosen a shade ofblue that would have been royal if ithadn’t been subdued with just enoughgrey to keep it classy. The tones wouldlend themselves well to the rich, warmwoods of the furniture that wasscheduled to arrive in the middle of theweek.

With each stroke of the brush, hermind drifted back more insistently to thatsingle, soft kiss. The memory of it madeher sigh out loud. Lord, if that’s what theman could cause in her with a polite

semi-kiss, what damage could he do ifhe really tried? What damage could hedo if she actually liked him?

•

Gary kicked off his work boots atthe front door and stepped quietly acrossthe foyer as he approached the light-filled entrance to his office. The sleepyyellow glow from a chandelier thathadn’t been there before made himsmile. He’d expected the woman to dothe job, but he hadn’t thought she’d startright in the next morning. A good workethic was something he could alwaysappreciate. For once, he was glad he’dleft work earlier than usual.

Hayely stretched up as tall as shecould, leaning forward into the ladder asshe put some final dabs of paint on thewall. Gary remained quiet with hishands in his pockets. He’d been wrongwhen he’d thought she wasn’t prettyenough to draw unwanted attention.From what he could see, she was nothingshort of beautiful in her worn jeans andT-shirt. The sedate dresses he’d seen herin before hadn’t come close to doing herjustice.

Her smooth, slender arms movedin gentle waves across the wall, lookingso feminine and graceful that he had towatch, and then watch some more. Thatsong had said something about never

making a pretty woman your wife, andGary wished he’d remembered thoselyrics before now. He felt guilty enoughfor luring her into the situation as it was,but to add physical attraction to the mixsimply wasn’t acceptable. He had otherfemale employees; this one should be nodifferent.

As she dropped the brush andstepped off the ladder, Hayely’s handfluttered to her chest the way he noticedit often did when she was startled. "Howlong have you been standing there?" Theshock added a little splash of color toher cheeks. He liked it.

"Long enough."

Hayely took a moment to gatherher wits as best she could. Shecomposed herself quickly. He liked that,too.

"Your eyes get green when you’rethinking evil thoughts."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I stocked your bathroom withsoaps and towels today. I thought youmight want a hot shower after work."

Gary walked across the room andpicked up the fallen paintbrush from itsplace on the newspaper-covered floor.He reached his arm around her.

"You missed a spot."

"Thank you," was all she said.

Gary handed the brush back to her.She pulled her hand back quickly andalmost dropped the brush again when hisfinger accidentally touched hers.

Gary pondered the expression inher eyes. She wasn’t flirting, wasn’tfawning over him, but of course shewouldn’t—she didn’t even know themagnitude of his wealth if what Charliesaid was right. She knew he owned animpressive house, was fairly well offand had cornered her into doing exactlywhat he wanted. Something other thanattraction might turn those eyes of hers

into shining silver that reflected his ownface back to him. Maybe what he sawthere was actually open dislike. Or fear.After all, he’d been tyrant enough toinsist on an arrangement she couldn’tpossibly enjoy.

"Could we talk for a minute?" sheasked, growing visibly uncomfortableunder his scrutiny.

He conceded with a nod. Hewasn’t big on small talk, but he owedher in some way, didn’t he?

"I know I froze during theceremony," she said. "But I just wantedyou to know that I intend on living up tomy end of the bargain."

"I know. From the looks of things,you’re doing an excellent job of it. Iwouldn’t have thought of using blue inhere. And Charlie mentioned somethingabout a furniture shipment coming in acouple days." He cleared his throat.

Hayely looked at him for amoment, blinked and nodded. "I wasthinking of doing the kitchen and yourbedroom next," she said at last.

Gary nodded his approval."Whatever you like. I think I mentionedyou might need to be here during acouple dinner parties, too. After thedécor is in place."

Hayely tucked her glossy hair back

behind her ears. "I was meaning to askyou about that. Obviously, I’m keepingour arrangement from my family. AndI’m not saying a word at work either.But, what if someone starts talking or ifwe have to be seen together somewherepublic? I don’t know what you do for aliving, but I get the impression peoplearound here seem to know you."

"Ah." Gary smiled—flashed whathe thought was his best smile in fact.

"My father would kill me and I’dprobably get fired if people at my officefound out."

"Fired for getting married?"

"You don’t know my boss. KathyMark fires people for breathing wrong."

Gary had recognized the companyname on Hayely’s sticky note and thetruth was, he did know Kathy Mark.He’d met her a year or so ago at somelocal event and she’d persistently triedto get him to toss some business towardher little company ever since. He hadn’tgiven her much thought after instructinghis executive assistant to answer all K.L. Mark correspondence with politerefusals, but it grated on him wheneverhe saw someone in authority mistreatpeople. He’d heard the rumors.

"Well," he said, "I don’t anticipatemany nights out on the town for us. Low

key is the plan." He might have to rethinkthat plan. She really was pretty. Hewouldn’t mind seeing her dressed to thehilt with her hair swept up off her neckand diamonds dripping off her earlobes.Maybe a few nights out with his newwife wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

"Don’t get any wild ideas aboutstaying in either," Hayely countered."I’m sure women fall at your feet. You’llhave to find one of them if you want—that."

"Believe me. I’m strictlybusiness." But his eyes never waveredfrom her.

Hayely’s hand flew to her throat.

Flushed. Conspicuous.

"You look more and more like amountain man every time I see you."

So maybe he ought to think abouttrimming his mop of wavy brown hairand maybe even take a razor to some ofthat stubble. He ran one hand over hissquare chin.

"You might have a point."

"I think I’ll call it quits for the dayif you don’t mind. I’ve got to get up earlyfor work in the morning," she said.

When she got near him, Garyalmost reluctantly turned to let her pass.

A nagging thought pressed at him, one hehadn’t considered before. It wouldn’tseem right for her to be leaving thehouse just as darkness fell each day.Someone, some neighbor, wouldeventually notice the pattern. Hisworries were sidetracked as a whiff ofvanilla and chocolate caught hisattention.

"Did you bake something?" Hefrowned and then smiled. No one hadever cooked in the big, empty housebefore. It made the place feel homey.

Hayely shrugged nonchalantly onher way out. "I made chocolate chipcookies. They’re on a plate in thekitchen. Tomorrow I’m stocking up all

the cupboards. People could starve todeath around here."

With a smile and a sigh she shutthe heavy front doors behind her.

As soon as her car sputtered out ofthe driveway, Gary made a lumberingdash for the kitchen. He couldn’tremember the last time he’d eaten hot,homemade chocolate chip cookies.Having a pretend wife had moreadvantages than he’d imaged—and he’ddiscovered a few more of them in oneevening.

Chapter Three

At exactly quarter till eight in themorning, Hayely was already at her desktyping up a memo for Kathy when thewoman herself walked by. With herhands hidden under her desk, Hayelyquickly slipped the wedding band off herfinger and into her purse. She felt

ridiculous wearing it anyway.

"Hayely," she greeted withoutlooking directly at her. Instead, her bossglanced at the clock and then briefly atHayely’s desk before walking off downthe hall.

"Good morning." Hayely felt themuscles in her neck and shouldersconstrict. She could tell what kind ofmood Kathy was in just by watching theway she walked, as if she were on herway to a matter of such importance thatshe had no time for civilities.

Hayely had gotten to the officeearlier than usual that morning so shecould have her real work done in time to

do a little research. With the Internet aclick away, she wanted to see what shecould find out about Gary Tarleton. Whowas he exactly? She brought up theonline version of the local newspaperand typed his name into the box forsearches.

And there it was. She’d soldherself to Nevada’s very own version ofDonald Trump, and all for twelvethousand dollars that he would hardlymiss after what she’d gleaned from thearticle. Not that the amount mattered, shecautioned herself. She’d broken thatwatch and it was her responsibility topay for it.

But still, Gary could have hired

the best interior designer on the planetand rented a supermodel to pose as hiswife for half a year. Why on earth wouldhe want her? She gritted her teeth as theanswer came: because she could bebought cheap and she owed him.

Apparently, Mr. Gary Tarletonowned a number of architectural,engineering and construction firms allunder the umbrella of his enormous localparent company—not to mentionconsiderable stock in several largecorporations and membership in all sortsof organizations. The man was a tycoon!

No wonder Charlie had laughed ather uninformed comments. And no

wonder Gary looked like a constructionworker. He probably went down to oneof his company’s sites from time to timeand wanted to fit in with the crew.

Hayely clicked on another link."Wow," she said aloud.

In front of her was a picture ofGary she would never have imagined.Dressed to kill in a tuxedo, clean-shavenand with closely cropped hair, he wassomething closer to James Bond than themountain man he’d resembled the daybefore. She peered closer at the picture.

All the people standing in thebackground behind him faded before hereyes as one person came into focus.

Kathy L. Mark. What were the odds herboss did business with her newhusband? No, she would have seen sometrace of that in all the papers that floatedacross her desk. But it was obviousKathy at least knew who Gary was.

Hayely shut down her Internetbrowser and a few seconds later an e-mail notice popped up on her screen.Kathy had written, "You need to tell meyour work schedule. I believe you are tostart at eight AM., but it was well pastthat when you arrived today. Pleaseadvise."

Hayely’s blood ran cold. Sheknew what this was. She’d seen Kathyuse the same method on a marketing

assistant who had resigned in tears justthe week before. The woman wascreating a false documentation trail tobuild a case for firing her. Of course,Kathy’s preferred outcome was tofrustrate Hayely into quitting. Less legalhassle that way. What had she done toraise her boss’ ire so soon? She couldonly begin to imagine.

With a dry lump in her throat,Hayely typed, "My schedule is still eightto five. When we greeted each other thismorning at 7:45 AM, I assumed this wasacceptable. Please let me know if youwould like me to arrive earlier and I canadjust my schedule."

Even as she hit the send button,she knew her reply wouldn’t find its wayinto her personnel file the way Kathy’sinitial accusatory e-mail would.

With her bills stacking up on thekitchen table, Hayely had to survive atK. L. Mark Enterprises just five and ahalf more months. Smoothing the front ofher skirt, she stood and began down thehall toward Kathy’s office to sort thingsout. If she’d learned anything, it was thather boss preened under flattery like noneother and maybe she could buy her job alittle more time that way even though itturned her stomach.

As she walked to the end of thehall, hushed voices just around the

corner stopped her in her tracks.Someone was talking about her, and noteven the tone of voice was flattering.

"And did you see what that Hayelyidiot had on today?" Kathy’s voicehissed. "She looks like she dressesstraight out of a thrift store. I’d diebefore being seen that way."

Hayely recognized the otherfemale voice as that of the chieffinancial officer, one of a couplepiranhas Kathy kept near her for support.

"I know. That shirt looks like aman’s. Good thing she’s not sitting up atthe front where people can see her—notthat the new receptionist looks any

better. I don’t think she’s going to workout any better than the last two."

Hayely had heard enough. Shewished she could sail around the cornerwith her head held high, tell the twocatty women what she thought of themand quit on the spot. But she couldn’t.

She’d summoned a large dose ofrebellious energy a month ago whenshe’d told her father she was moving outof the house and not entering medicalschool as he wished. She hated to getinvolved in another conflict, haveanother confrontation so soon after thatfiasco. Besides, when she’d talked toher father, she’d at least known what shewanted. But what did she want now? A

little basic on-the-job respect would bea good place to start.

Her cheeks flushed heated crimsonunder the insults she’d just overheard. Inspite of Gary’s etiquette shortcomings,he had been impressed enough with hertaste to hire her. Now she wasn’t sure ifthat was a compliment or not. But shecould at least bet Gary never doubtedwhat he wanted. He seemed to knowexactly how to get from point A to pointB. Better yet, he knew what his point Bwas. Hayely thought she might take apage from his book when her six monthswere up.

Even if she didn’t have to work

for Kathy to pay the bills, where wouldshe work? Life with her bottom in achair behind a word processor didn’tsuit her. The complete lack of creativitybored her to tears.

She didn’t quite think she wasbuilt to be a construction worker, either.She smiled to herself. Not like Gary wasbuilt. She breathed in and out, letting theurge to confront Kathy pass.

The hours limped by in agonybefore it was time for Hayely to leavethe office. She breathed an enormoussigh of relief and drove straight forGary’s house. She’d put in several morelarge, expensive furniture orders duringher lunch break and wanted to get some

more painting done before it all arrived.She could decorate the house easily inthe given time frame and was surprisedat how she enjoyed it. She loved the wayher mind could wander into memoriesand ideas while she painted.

She walked in through a side doorand headed for the kitchen after kickingher shoes off along the way. No soonerthan she’d stepped through the door, therefrigerated delivery truck from thegrocery store pulled into the driveway.Perfect timing, she thought with a smile.

Bag after bag, the driver carriedthe groceries inside. The kitchen floorwas soon heaped with crackling brown

paper bags and soft white plastic ones.She didn’t know what sorts of food Garymight like, but she knew what shepreferred. And, after all, Charlie hadtold her to do whatever she liked.

In the corner below some cabinets,Gary had built in something of a closetlined with cool cement. Hayely smiled.This was the equivalent of a root cellarbrought indoors. She loaded it up withbottles of wine and bags of potatoes andonions. These things would stay just theright temperature there, she guessed.

She turned and opened up one ofthe shiny double doors of the copper-faced refrigerator. Hayely whistled low.She could fit enough food in there to

feed a small country. The bags of freshfruit and vegetables were quickly storedaway in the gold-labeled glass drawersinside.

Next she looked at the big bags offlour, corn meal, sugar, powdered milkand a variety of other gourmet bakingessentials. They would fit perfectly inone of the lower cabinets. And then therewere the canned goods …

In less than an hour, Hayely had akitchen stocked full of all the foods shethought a kitchen should have. Then shebegan to make dinner. Days weregrowing longer as spring neared, but atlast the sunlight had begun to fade for the

evening.

She set some potatoes to boil. Thehouse seemed strangely lonely and fartoo quiet without Gary there. Of course,he didn’t talk much when he was there.But still, she almost hoped he wouldcome home early just to give hersomething to take her mind off the lousyday she’d had.

"Home? What a stupid word toeven think," she said aloud to herself.This wasn’t her home. She shouldn’t kidherself for a second about that. No sensegetting too cozy. As soon as the sixmonths were up, Gary would give herthat promised ten-thousand-dollar bonusand send her on her not-so-merry way

back to the small apartment that reallywas her home.

•

Gary stood inside the foyer andgrinned when he saw Hayely’s shoeskicked off in the corner. She was alwaysso timid about scuffing the marble floor.He should have designed a log cabinwith floors people could track dirt in on,but the architectural artist in him hadgotten carried away and designed thehouse he’d pictured in fairy tales. Heunlaced his big work boots and set themdown beside her little black pumps.

An amazing, heavenly smelldrifted to him as he lined up his boots.

These were not the usual smells of paintand plaster; this was the aroma of a goodold-fashioned home cooked meal. Howmany years had it been since he’d hadone of those? He couldn’t evenremember.

He walked into the kitchen andplunked himself down wearily at thetable. Hayely heaped his plate full offood and smiled at him. His nose had ablack smudge on it and there was aragged tear above the pocket on one ofhis white T-shirts.

"You shaved," she noticed. Hergaze scanned the planes of his face andhe saw her hands tremble just soslightly.

He looked up at her with curiosityas she set a bowl full of mashedpotatoes, a platter of asparagus wrappedin bacon, and another dish of poachedsalmon down in front of him.

"You don’t have to cook for me,you know. That wasn’t part of the deal."He gazed up at her and thought he caughtsomething wistful in her expression.

Hayely stood next to him. "I don’tmind. It’s nice to be able to dosomething that someone elseappreciates. Especially after eight longhours at that office."

He took a huge fork full of fluffy

potatoes and gulped them down. "I wasgetting sick of fast food. And I can’tcook worth a darn." He shoveled inmore potatoes after swirling in somemore butter.

"Well, I’m glad you’re happy. I’llbe painting the living room if you needanything." She started to walk aroundhim when he caught her.

His fingers closed gently aroundher wrist. "You’re not going to eat?" heasked with only the faintest hint ofdisappointment and then quicklyresumed his former manner.

"You’d want me to? With you, Imean?" She looked from his green-

brown eyes to his hand at her wrist.

"Absolutely." He released hisloose hold and gestured brusquely to theseat across from him. "I’d like to talkwith you."

"You would? I didn’t think you’dwant to converse with the hired help."The gleam in her eyes showed that sheteased.

He nodded and swallowed hisfood. "Why wouldn’t I? We all have tosuffer through meetings sometimes.You’re not the exception."

She sat down and helped herself tosome asparagus. "You told me you

didn’t want conversation or questions."

He smiled wickedly. "You paidattention to that? I said a lot of things inthat sentence I should amend."

"Well, you don’t generally seem tobe the talkative type. Anyway, it doesn’tmatter."

"What type do I seem?" he asked.

Hayely’s hand shook again as shepicked up her fork. "I didn’t meananything bad. We just haven’t exactlyspoken much."

He propped his muscular arm upon the tabletop. "I figure if I don’t know

a person or don’t like a person, there’snot really much need for small talk."

She rolled her head side to sideand relaxed. "Guess I must have passedthe test."

"This fish is delicious," he saidwith a sound of appreciation low in histhroat. After a steady week ofhamburgers and fast food tacos, asalmon dinner was just short of heaven."Actually, I wanted to talk with youabout something in specific."

"Okay."

"You need to move into this housewith me," he declared with a casual

shrug.

•

Hayely almost choked on her foodand her eyes widened. His actions hadalready surprised her several timesover. He alternated between setting heron edge with his insane demands andthen soothing her with his low, calmvoice.

But this? This was crazy talk.

"I’ll hire someone to move yourthings into one of the empty bedroomstomorrow," he continued. He waved hisfork in the air as if in the grip of somegreat revelation. "Or even better—buy

yourself new furniture for that room andsell your old things if you want. Or putthem in storage. Whichever. I’ll have themovers do what you want tomorrowwhile you’re at work."

Hayely stared at him indumbfounded silence. This was thesecond time she’d seen him genuinelyexpect the impossible to be done in thesnap of a finger.

"Are you nuts?" she finally askedin the calmest tone she could muster.

Gary stopped chewing and lookedup at her with the same \self-assuredexpression she’d seen when she steppedon his watch.

"I made a promise when I wasyounger and I mean to keep it. I won’t beable to keep it unless a particular man ina position of power allows me to. Andhe won’t allow me to unless he sees I’ma family man with a stable home and awife."

"I still don’t understand why Ihave to move in," she said with a hint ofstubborn confusion.

"Because I’ll be contacting thisman tomorrow and the minute I do, he’llstart keeping a very close eye on me.And on you. If you come and go everyevening and he catches wind of it, he’llknow something’s not right. I can’tafford for him to suspect anything."

"This whole thing had better notbe about some multi-million-dollaracquisition you promised yourself you’dchase down and conquer when you wereyounger."

"It’s not," Gary said throughclenched teeth. "And I don’t think that’swhat you think of me either."

Hayely planted her elbow on thetable and rested her forehead in the palmof her hand. "I have a one-year lease onmy apartment. Ten months left to go."

"I’ll pay it off."

She groaned. "What about my

mail? My phone? I’ll have to give thenew information to my office and myfamily, too. What if someone calls andyou answer the phone?"

"I’ll give you a cell phone withyour own private number tomorrow. Idon’t see a problem with the addresschange. No one will recognize it."

"Are you kidding? This is the mostexclusive area of town." Gary’s estatetook up most of the area all on its own,she mused.

"Tell them you’re house-sitting forfriend for a few months." He cut apartthe last succulent piece of salmon.

Hayely leaned back in her chair."You have an answer for everything,don’t you?"

She knew he enjoyed the way heremotions swam so openly across hereyes when she was coming to anagreement. She’d never been able tohelp that.

"You’d never make a goodcorporate negotiator."

She sighed.

"Think of it this way, Mrs.Tarleton. You’ll have something to putinto a savings account now. You’ll besaving all that rent money. Grocery,

electricity, water and phone bill money,too. Look at me as your financial plan."

She waved her hands in the air."And that. That’s another thing."Laughter threatened to bubble up insidehe r. Incorrigible. That was the wordshe’d use to describe him. Incorrigibleand slightly antisocial in an endearingway.

"That?"

"That ‘Mrs. Tarleton’ thing. It’s onall the accounts and all the credit cards.I think I can avoid changing it oneverything else. Lots of women keeptheir maiden names. And I’ve tried not tobuy much locally, but I have to sign that

new name for all the delivery menanyway, so I might as well just shophere. Everyone in this city is going toknow we’re married within the month atthis rate."

"All the more reason for you tomove in here by tomorrow. At leastwe’ve managed to keep it out of thepapers. What does it really matter,though? If letting the secret out makes itmore convincing, so be it. I kind of likethe idea."

Hayely pushed herself away fromthe table, alternated between laughingand gritting her teeth, and finallystomped her foot down once. He wasabsolutely infuriating without even

trying. She’d lose her job instantly andher family would disown her for sure,but he didn’t seem to give that muchthought at the moment.

"I’ll be ruined! Don’t you evencare if I’m ruined?"

She rose up on the balls of her feeta little and then marched away from thetable. Just as she passed Gary, hereached out and caught her arm again.This time he stood to face her.

Without a word, he caught herother wrist, gently guided her backaround to face him, pulling her slightlycloser to him in the process.

"Look up at me, Hayely," hecommanded.

She turned her face up, meeting hisgaze defiantly. "You know, I enjoydecorating your home. But I hate thecircumstances of it."

"We signed a contract. Whatwould you have me do?" he asked softly.

"Get a new homeowner’sinsurance policy that would havecovered that stupid watch."

•

Gary dropped her hands andstepped away. He wasn’t sure where the

boundaries were. He’d paid for herservices, and if he crossed any line shemight feel—well, she might believe helooked at her without the respect shedeserved and would hate him for it.

But he did respect her. He hadn’tbeen able to get the way she spoke withsuch poised, calm fire out of his head forthe last two days. He admired thatquality in a woman. He also wonderedhow anyone as classically pretty asHayely could come across so sure ofherself yet so uncertain about everythingaround her at the same time.

They stood facing each other insilence for moments, unsure, breathing.The thud of the front door shook them

both and the spell was broken.

"Charl ie," Hayely greeted tooenthusiastically. "Would you like somepineapple upside down cake?"

Was that relief or disappointmentin the air between them?

Charlie crossed the room towardthem, quickly closing the space with hislong, skinny legs. "No one’s fool enoughto say no to that offer," he said.

As Charlie sat down, Gary noddedat him and then left the room.

"What’s with him?" Charlie asked.

Hayely poured them both a cup ofcoffee to go with the cake. "We just hada discussion, that’s all. Looks like I’mmoving in tomorrow."

Charlie looked from Hayely to thedirty dishes scattered across the table."Did you two just eat dinner? And Imissed out?"

Hayely nodded. "You’ll have tocome earlier next time. I got a newrecipe book the other day."

Charlie shook his head. In thetwenty years since he’d met Gary, thetimes they’d had to relax and eat a home-cooked meal had been few and farbetween. There had been too many

business luncheons, too many airplanemeals to count, too many well-meantsetups with women who were mostlycaptivated by Gary’s bankbook.

"Didn’t you hear me say I’mmoving in?" Hayely frowned at him. Theman had seemed lost in his own worldfor a moment.

Charlie waved his handcheerfully. "Oh, I already know aboutthat. Gary was worried someone mightsee you leave. Then sure enough, ouraccountant was coming here last nightand asked him why his wife was goingout of town so soon after the wedding.Gary didn’t want that kind of assumptionto happen again."

"Oh." She took a sip of coffee andlooked thoughtfully at Charlie. "Garywas just telling me about the promisehe’d made—why he needed a temporarywife. It sounds awfully important tohim."

Charlie assessed the casual lookon her face carefully. If Gary trusted her,then he could. "Well, after growing up inthat place, he knows firsthand what it’slike. He wants to make sure those kidshave the absolute best."

Hayely gazed into her coffee mug.If she pushed the subject, Charlie mightrealize how little she really knew andnot let something slip later. And she

didn’t know when she might need tounderstand more about her new boss.Co-conspirator. Husband. Whatever hewas to her.

"I’d better go upstairs and let Garyknow which room to move my thingsinto." She gave Charlie a smile and lefthim alone at the table with the entirecake and a fork.

She reached the top of the stairsand called out, "Gary? Are you uphere?" Without much in the way offurniture, a cold museum-like echo cameback her. "Gary?"

•

Gary heard her voice and steppedfrom his bedroom and walked towardthe hall. He was just getting ready totake a shower and was still grinningbecause of the plush towels and newsupply of toiletries he’d found in hisbathroom. He’d mostly made due withhis collection of miniature samples fromhotels ever since the house’sconstruction had wrapped up.

"I’m right here," he called out ashe rounded the corner. Gary stood only afew feet away from her and ran hisfingers through his hair.

Hayely said quietly, "I didn’t meanto interrupt." She glanced down at thebar of bay rum soap in his hand. "Glad

you found things. I didn’t know whichcabinet to put them in."

Gary felt himself smile again."Why, Mrs. Tarleton, I had no ideayou’d gone so far above and beyond thecall of duty," he murmured. "Fancysoaps even."

"I’m just earning my bonus."

"The cooking alone would havedone that."

"I cook because I enjoy it."

"Not because I do?" A smileplayed at the corner of his lips.

"It’s a side-effect that couldn’t behelped." Hayely smiled. Or at leastthreatened to.

"If you’re wondering," Gary said,"I hope I’m keeping up my end of thebargain, too. I’ve been pleased—morethan pleased with how you’ve held upyours. You’ve proven yourself to be anintelligent, attractive woman. You had atalent or two hidden away that I hadn’tsuspected and—I’m trying to say you’rean asset."

A furrow crossed Hayely’s browand as such an "attractive woman" heworried she might make a snappycomeback about sexual harassment in theworkplace. She looked with widened

eyes at the man in front of her.

"You said I’ve ‘proven’ myself.But what was your first impression ofme, Gary? I want the honest truth. Didyou think I looked frumpy? Unattractive?Dimwitted?"

Gary’s low laughter subsided intoa chuckle as he ran his hand along hischin. "I didn’t mean it that way. I’venever seen any woman less frumpy. Theday we met I wasn’t thinking of anythingother than a means to an end. It’sinexcusable. I apologize."

Hayely’s hand fluttered to hermouth. "No, I’m the one who’s sorry. Idon’t know why I even let myself ask

that. I shouldn’t have. Bottledinsecurities tend to push theircontainer’s cork skyrocketing at thestrangest times."

Gary studied her eyes, full of asubsiding emotion that looked likesplinters of crystal. He thought strangelyabout reaching out to smooth back herhair, then thought the better of it. Shemight take it the wrong way. Therewould be no right way to take it.

"It must have been bothering you,"he said at length. "Whoever gave you theidea you were unattractive?"

"Something petty I overheardtoday. And all the things you said that

day I ran into you."

"As I said, my mind was on myproblems that day. Did I mention I’moften stupid and inept around women?"he asked with a low chuckle.

"This is a really inappropriateconversation," Hayely said with a start."I think being in this house togethermakes things seem more casual than theyare sometimes."

Gary nodded. "I’m sure that’s it.But before we go back to strictlybusiness, let me say this. Hayely, youlook like a modern-day 1940s moviestar without the ego. The way you dress,the way you carry yourself." He paused

and looked at her expression closely."That’s all."

"I appreciate that you’re trying tomake me feel better." She closed hereyes as if some great tragedy hadbefallen her and then quickly openedthem again.

"Don’t mention it." Gary clearedhis throat. "Now what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to ask about my room.You can move my things into whicheverone you like. I have to tell you I’mhoping for one with a fireplace and anice view of the grounds, though. SinceI’ve got to live here, might as well makeit good."

"You’re not going to fight me onthis?" he asked.

"What would be the point? You’rethe boss."

Gary watched until shedisappeared down the winding staircase,her stocking feet making no noise at all.He shook his head silently.

He’d avoided complications thatmight interfere with his focus on thecompany like a contagious disease allhis life. So how was it that he suddenlyhad a shopping, decorating, cooking,laughing woman living in his home?How was it that he’d become so bent onkeeping a childhood promise that he’d

blocked everything else from his mind?Still, he had to go through with the plan.He hoped Hayely understood and didn’tloathe him for it.

"You’re getting soft, Tarleton," hesaid to himself before he turned to gotake that shower.

Chapter Four

Hayely had never considered it possiblethat she could be more miserable outsideher father’s house than in it. In the spanof a month, she’d turned her life into agiant disaster and didn’t know exactlyhow to go about correcting the situation.

She thought she might even bemissing Gary some—probably caving inunder the stress at work and the sheeremptiness of the big stone house whilehe was away. Charlie stopped by tocheck on her from time to time, but aftera full week and then two had passed, shefound herself straining her neck towardthe door at every sound.

Soon after Gary had gone out oftown, the much-anticipated shipment offurniture had arrived all the way fromVermont and Hayely couldn’t wait toshow it off.

The den looked like somethingfrom a hundred years ago with its heavymahogany wood and rich brown leather.

The desk and chair she’d chosen forGary simply oozed understated power.A rug twisted with muted colors restedbetween the furniture legs and thehardwood floor below. With a paintingof the English countryside she’dparticularly liked and a plant or two,Hayely called that room complete andmoved her efforts fully to the masterbedroom.

When Gary returned he would finda giant bed with four posts carved ofmahogany in the same style as his deskdownstairs in the den. Those gauzy,cream-colored curtains she’d envisionedwere in place, as was the rest of thebedroom furniture. She even painted the

walls a dark cream and hung a large,medieval-looking tapestry full of redsand blues against one of them as afinishing touch.

Then her attention turned towardher own room. Why the movers hadinstructed her things delivered to thebedroom next to Gary’s was beyond her.Surely he wouldn’t have requested suchan arrangement, but then, it was thesecond largest bedroom. The locationwas probably her fault—she realized itwhen she walked into the room. There inthe corner was her own stone fireplace,just as she’d requested.

As night fell, she started a smallfire and curled up in front of the hearth

with a book. She pulled her comforteroff the bed and smoothed it outunderneath her for some cushioning.Some thick, plush carpeting wasdefinitely in order.

Hayely’s mind wandered from thenovel in her hand as she stared off intothe hypnotic flames. What would she dowith herself in just five months? If officework wasn’t her calling, then what was?The only time she was truly content waswhen she was working in this house forGary. But that would all end soon—toosoon. Six months rang out like a harshjail sentence at first, but now she almostdreaded the end of that time.

She was so absorbed in herthoughts and so very tired from the day’swork that she didn’t hear the sound of acar arriving in the winding drivewayoutside.

•

The yellow cab slipped throughthe rain and turned its wheels against thecircular curb near the front door. Garystepped out of the taxi, tipped the driverand pulled his luggage inside. From thesilence that met him, he assumed Charliehad returned to his own house andHayely was probably asleep upstairs.

"Anybody home?" He kept hisvoice low just in case.

Charlie rose from the kitchen tableas his boss entered the room. "Goodtrip?"

Gary nodded and looked aroundthe transformed kitchen and out into theformal dining room. "You really ought tojust move in, too. You practically livehere anyway." He paused and took in thechanges around him. "She’s made quite abit of progress, hasn’t she?"

Charlie nodded in return. "So whatdid Mr. Bellmark have to say?"

"He nearly confirmed that thechildren’s home is up for sale. He hasplans for it, but he hasn’t confided in mewhat they are. It’s hard to believe that

the time has come already. Did youknow he’s almost eighty-years-oldnow?"

Charlie shook his head. "I haven’tseen him in years. Seems like a lifetimeago. Any luck convincing him to let youbuy it from him?"

Gary chuckled low in his throat. "Idon’t think he believed me when I toldhim I wasn’t going to let anyonebulldoze the place."

"I wouldn’t doubt it. You werejust ten years old then."

Gary gave Charlie a surly lookthat told him he couldn’t comprehend

why his being a boy at the time shouldmake a hair of difference.

Charlie smiled, stretching a fewfreckles across his cheeks. "Ah, I forgetthe great Gary Tarleton was never amere boy."

"Absolutely right." Gary thrust hishands into his pockets. "But the stubbornold guy is staying true to his word, too.He says he’d rather see it demolishedthan let someone disreputable get hishands on it."

"Did you tell him about Hayely?"

"Of course. I made it a casual,personal visit. But Charlie, we’re not

even close to convincing him. Youknow, I didn’t even have a picture of myown wife in my wallet to show himwhen he asked."

"This is getting complicated."

Gary ran his hand along a new fiveo’clock shadow. What he wanted ofHayely had ballooned far above hisoriginal intentions. There was no waythey could hide their marriage from thepublic and make it convincing at thesame time. Even a media campaignwould be to his advantage. If he’d had areal wedding, he’d bet photographerswould have been all over it. Butwhatever benefited him would probablyhurt Hayely more, and after hearing what

she’d said in the kitchen, he didn’t wantto make things worse if he could help it.

Gary smiled to himself. "I’ve gotan assignment for you tomorrow,Charlie."

"Just say the word."

"I want you to go out and buy ablack—no, a silver BMW. Get one ofthose really expensive retro-designedmodels with the red leather interior. If Iknow her taste, she’ll like that."

"It’s for Hayely? You like her, Ithink." Charlie grinned broadly.

"I couldn’t stand to have a good

employee seen in that mess, much lessone who’s supposed to be my wife.When I pulled into the driveway andsaw her car parked there—the bumper isfalling off, she’s got the hood held downwith a piece of wire, and every time shedrives off to work it takes ten minutesfor the exhaust cloud to leave. And didyou see the patch of rust holding thetrunk on? It’s not even safe."

"So, in other words, you like her,"he pressed.

Gary sighed. "Yeah. She’s a goodperson."

"You’re married to her. Itwouldn’t be all that hard to make the

relationship—"

"Don’t push your luck, Charlie."He shot his friend what was supposed tobe a quelling look. "I’m off to bed."

Gary walked up the stairs, clunkafter clunk. He’d forgotten to take hisshoes off in the foyer and his bootsweighed heavily with every step.Charlie was really rotten for bringing upthe subject. The more he got to knowHayely, the guiltier he felt about theircontract. And now Charlie had put ideasinto head that had no business beingthere.

The door to her room was most ofthe way open in front of him, so he

placed his hand flat against it and pushedit back farther. Hayely was stretched outon her side in front of the red glow of thedying embers covering the bottom of herfireplace. From the way her head wasrested against one outstretched arm,Gary knew she’d fallen asleep.

Oh so quietly, he tugged anotherblanket off of her bed and stretched it outover her. As he tiptoed from the room,her drowsily slurred voice stopped him.

"You’re home," she said. "I didn’thear you come in."

"I didn’t mean to wake you," heanswered softly.

Hayely sat up underneath theblanket. "You don’t need to whisper. I’malready awake."

Gary walked back to her and satdown with her on the floor. Her face,softened by sleep, was flushed from theheat of the fire and just looking at herstirred something protective inside him.

"Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes and no. I met with the man Itold you about—Mr. Bellmark."

"Ah. The one holding the powerover your promise."

"That would be him, yes. I’m

afraid our work might be for nothing.Our ruse isn’t fooling him a bit," Garysaid with a shake of his head.

"What happened?"

"The cagey old buzzard asked tosee a wedding picture, and I didn’t haveone in my wallet. Most husbandswould."

"I see."

"Hayely, this isn’t going to work.With our current arrangement, he’s nevergoing to believe we’ve created a hometogether. I can’t ask any more of you thanyou’ve already given."

"I know what I said. But I wasangry and a little stunned that night."Hayely rested her hand briefly on hisarm. "You should let me be the one whodecides what I’m willing to give."

Gary looked at her with no littlesurprise on his face. "Alright then. Wewould have to spend a lot of timetogether to make it convincing. We’dhave to get photos taken together. We’dhave to be seen around town and leak thenews of our nuptials. And in five or somore months, we’d have to face themusic when the gossip about our divorcespreads like wildfire. Does that soundlike any fun to you?"

Hayely returned Gary’s gaze

thoughtfully and began to fold theblanket. She already told him sheplanned to resign from her job andwould have to move out after thearrangement was over anyway. If shemoved out of state, which she’dconsidered, she wouldn’t have to dealwith any of the fallout—not the way hewould.

"I think I could consider doing allthose things. But, what happens whenyour Mr. Bellmark comes to visit and Ihaven’t a clue as to why he’s visiting?"

Gary tapped his fingertip againsthis bottom lip. Telling her about hispromise would take one of the greatest

leaps of faith he’d ever made. Therewasn’t another soul who knew of hispast other than Charlie and theBellmarks. As a man who had usedwords sparingly up until now, he wasn’teven sure he was capable of let suchcritical ones flow.

"You’re right," he acknowledgedslowly. "But I have to believe you’lltake what I say to the grave. I’m—veryprivate."

She made the sign of a cross overher heart with her finger. "Your secret ismy secret."

Gary drew in a breath andcontinued in a voice that sounded more

like a rumble. "I met Charlie abouttwenty years ago at a small, privatelyrun orphanage in Maine. We grew uptogether there."

"What happened to your parents?"

"I was told they’d drowned in aboating accident, but I never knew forsure. I just remember getting tossed fromplace to place until I landed there withMr. and Mrs. Bellmark. They wereabsolutely incredible. Those two treatedall of us—all forty-five of us—as if wewere their own natural children. Theynever even forgot a birthday."

"I wish you’d told me some of thisearlier. You’ve come a long way, Gary

Tarleton. I can’t imagine most peopleachieving what you have."

"They just haven’t been given theproper chance, which is where mypromise comes in. When I was about ten,I got dressed up in my best Sundayclothes and marched into Mr. Bellmark’soffice. I told him that I was never goingto let his home for boys end up like theothers. I promised that I’d do whatever ittook to make sure the orphans who livedthere always had it the best, alwayslearned what a family was the way heand his wife had taught us."

"So where do I figure into all ofthis?"

"Mr. Bellmark made a promise tome, too. He said he would see the placebulldozed when he died rather than letsome typical state-trained social workertouch a hand to it. He told me that if Igrew up honorably, made a strongmarriage, and could pass the right valueson to the children, then he’d considerletting me try to live up to my promise."

Hayely thought for a moment. "Butisn’t it dishonest tricking him intothinking something about you that isn’ttrue?"

Gary’s gaze felt steadily moreintense. "But, I have the value system,Hayely. And someday I’ll have thefamily I want for real. It just hasn’t

happened for me yet." He hung his headfor a moment and ran his hand over hischin. "And I know a very kind, stable,religious local couple there who can’thave children of their own. They wouldlove nothing more than to move in andrun the place. They remind me so muchof Mr. and Mrs. Bellmark that it’s scary.I have the money to put those kidsthrough school, all the way to theirdoctorates if they want. Mr. Bellmarkused to take us all every Sunday to thisold church down the road. I can pay tokeep a pastor there and repair thebuilding when it’s necessary. I—"

"Ok already. You’ve won meover." Hayely was afraid she’d have to

put her hand over his mouth to cut himoff. She laughed brightly.

Gary stood quickly and Hayelyrose to stand beside him. He’d saidmore in the last five minutes with Hayelythan he had to all the women in his pastcombined. And it felt wonderful.

She judged his mood with aglance. "I’m glad you feel better." Shelooked up at him, her shining eyesexplaining silently that his elation wascontagious. She was genuinely happysimply because he was.

Gary caught his breath as helooked at her for much longer than everintended. He bent and placed a chaste

kiss on her forehead, wanting to lingerand not quite daring.

"Must be a friendly office you’vegot." Hayely blushed in spite of herefforts to sound collected.

"I got carried away." He quicklywalked toward the door. "You’re easy toget carried away with, Mrs. Tarleton."

"Knock off the ‘Mrs. Tarleton’ bit,will you?" she teased. "You know, Ithink a real wife would be your undoing.And that would be a good thing."

Gary closed her door tightlybehind him as he left her room and thenforced his feet to move forward until the

urge to kiss her had passed.

•

Charlie grinned as he loungedlazily on the back porch swing. Thephotographer had positioned Gary andHayely in front of a fountain for the nextround of pictures. He’d lost count ofhow many rolls of film she’d alreadygone through.

"No, it doesn’t look right fromhere. I think they should sit closer. Holdhands maybe." Charlie pretended not tocatch the sinister glare Gary gave himwhen the lady with the fancy camerawasn’t looking. He chuckled to himselfwhen she suggested the couple do

exactly as Charlie had suggested.

"And wouldn’t it be great," hecalled out, "to get one of them kissing. Itwould be so romantic."

But from watching Gary andHayely, no one would suspect theyweren’t looking at a real husband andwife. They certainly had their act downto a fine scientific study of romance.Each time Gary looked down intoHayely’s eyes, the two seemed to getstuck there until the photographerlaughed and bent them into a new pose.

And then there was the unique factthat Hayely’s bare knee seemed to drawGary’s rough hand to it like a magnet of

sorts. Sometimes Hayely would placeher own hand over his and fidget withhis wedding band while it rested on herleg. Did either of them notice what theywere doing? Charlie wondered.

"And that does it," thephotographer finished. "I can have thesedeveloped by the end of the week if thatworks for you."

"Fine. Thank you." Gary said intypically gruff fashion, then nodded forCharlie to see the woman to her car.Hayely gave Gary an exasperated lookas if he’d been horrible somehow."What? Don’t know her, don’t care tochat with her any more than I need to."

"You could at least put a fullsentence together for the woman. She didcome here on really, really short noticeafter all. Not to mention on her day off."

Gary shot Hayely a sidelongglance. "Going to keep me civilized areyou, Mrs. Tarleton?"

"Mr. Tarleton, I don’t think it’spossible." Hayely laughed out loud, thesound of it mixing with the bubblingwater in the fountain behind them."Besides, I thought you were going toquit calling me that."

When she awoke that morning,she’d wondered if things might be tensebetween her and Gary. She worried if he

was the type to feel embarrassment at theslightest revealed feeling. He might treather like a leper because she’d been theone to witness the inner workings ofGary Tarleton, unsociable tycoonextraordinaire.

But as always, all it took was onerolling word from his soothing voice andthe touch of his hand brushing her elbow,and she felt completely at home in theworld. It was odd how someone soseemingly reticent had that effect onpeople, on her.

Gary placed his hand protectivelyon Hayely’s shoulder as she walked upthe porch steps. She’d lost track of howmany times he’d come close to walking

back into her room that night. Toapologize? To see if she would have lethim kiss her? She didn’t know. His handhad been on that doorknob a hundredtimes, but he’d turned around andwalked away just one time more thanthat.

The possibility of creating a stablefamily for real had just never seemed inthe cards for him, had it? She guessedthere’d been too many women withulterior motives, no one who could drawhim away from the office.

Hayely looked skeptically up atGary. He’d fallen into one of his longsilences on the way into the house, and

she was too scared of his answer tooffer a penny for his thoughts.

"Where should we go today?" heasked.

"Go?" she asked as he turned andheaded for the front of the house instead.

"No time like the present forgetting those rumors flying. If we starttoday, we’ll have a good bit of gossipcoverage before the Chamber ofCommerce banquet on Wednesdaynight."

"What banquet is that?" She ran tocatch him.

"I’ve had a dozen differentinvitations from women to the banquetalready and here I am, married to theonly one who has never even heard ofit."

"Life’s funny, ain’t it?" she asked.

"The banquet is the biggest eventthis spring. Maybe all year even. Theannual awards ceremony is always heldat it, and just about every major businessin the state sends someone to attend."

"Is it very formal?" Hayely hadleft her evening gowns in a boxsomewhere in the back of her parents’garage. She’d never imagined she mighthave a use for them anytime soon.

"Fairly." He was glad he’d parkedin the driveway last time instead ofpulling into the garage.

"Gary, I don’t have anything towear. I don’t want people to see youwith me looking like I’ve dressed out ofa thrift store." She felt tears threaten tosting her eyes. Why on earth had she letKathy’s cruel words bother her so? Dayslater, they still hurt.

Gary was thoroughly taken abackby her reaction. "Hey. What’s that lookfor? Seems to me we’ve just found ourexcuse to go out on the town. I think afew boutiques are probably open onSunday."

Hayely wiped her eyes with theback of her hands. "I’d love to goshopping. Can I get shoes, too?"

Gary laughed outright. "I’m sureyou have fifty pairs in your closet andnone of them will do." He held open thedoor to his big truck for her and watchedas she climbed high up inside.

"You have a truck," she statedflatly as he shut the driver’s side door.

"Yes."

"Why?" she asked.

"Why? It’s a long walk to work."

She smiled in spite of herself. "Imean most people with a house likeyours would be trying to provesomething. I imagined a garage litteredwith Ferraris and Porches."

"I never understood thosepretentious types either. You know, thetypes who run out and buy useless,expensive watches."

His sense of humor charmed her."My father probably has a fraction of themoney you do and he drives a RollsRoyce. But he wouldn’t spend that muchmoney on a watch I don’t think."

"If he’s that well off, why couldn’tyou have just called him and asked for a

loan when you stepped on my watch?"He shrugged and adjusted the rearviewmirror.

"My father is convinced I need todo one specific thing and be with onespecific kind of man. I can’t stand themen he approves of and the thing hewants me to do bores me to tears, andvice versa. I’d rather be poor and happythan—don’t even make me start thinkingabout it—indebted."

"Why not be rich and happy?"Gary shoved the truck into gear androlled out of the driveway.

"Life’s not always a fairy tale, youknow."

"Well," he said, "for today we’llboth be rich and happy then. We’ll find astunning gown for you, drink caramellattes until we’re sick, and come home toa good night’s sleep in a warm house.Can’t do much better than that."

"You make life sound like one bigcarnival." Hayely rolled her eyes andsighed deeply. "Too bad I have to gointo the office tomorrow."

•

Gary stopped talking as he caughta glimpse of himself in the mirror. He’dbeen out on too many sites lately. Hewasn’t even presentable in his currentstate and he’d just had pictures taken. At

l eas t Hayely looked good. The newdistress in her voice bothered him andhis gaze shifted back to her.

"Still think you’ll get fired whenthey find out you’re married?" Hesounded unconcerned, but he wasn’t. Hefelt he needed to watch Kathy Markclosely for some reason, and he neverignored his instincts.

Hayely nodded. "They’re justlooking for something to call mytrustworthiness into question. They’llsay I was deceptive or something alongthose lines. Let’s not talk about itanymore. It’s not your problem to dealwith. I’m handling it."

Gary grasped the steering wheeltighter. A couple weeks or so ago, he’dhired one of Kathy Mark’s formeremployees, and the grateful man hadpainted him a vivid picture of thewoman a few days later. In fact, it hadtaken his new employee days to stopflinching like a beaten dog every time asupervisor so much as spoke to him. Thethought of someone treating Hayely theway he suspected she was being treatedmade Gary clench his teeth. Darn ifKathy Mark was going to get a shred ofbusiness tossed her way after that.

"I’ve heard about that Markwoman," he said at last. "Just let meknow if she gives you too much trouble.

And by the way, that watch was going tobe a birthday gift for Charlie."

"Knowing you now, that makessense." She noticed that the only piece ofjewelry on him was his wedding band.He didn’t wear a watch very ofteneither.

The truck’s big engine pulled themeffortlessly down the freeway and off anexit to a line of expensive clothing storesnot far from downtown.

Gary jumped out of the truck, hisheavy boots hitting the pavement in awell-practiced motion as he strodearound to open Hayely’s door. Hepaused for a moment with his hands

resting lightly on her waist and lookedup at her tense face.

"You’d be the prettiest woman atthe party even if you showed up in yourpaint-splattered sweatpants," he saidloudly.

Hayely placed her hands on hisshoulders and let him swing her downfrom the truck. "Charlie said you werecharming when you wanted to be.Anyone watching would think we’rereally an item. You’re good, boss." Shewinked mysteriously at him.

That familiar and much-too-serious expression crossed Gary’s face.For a moment he looked extremely

solemn. Was she genuinely flirting withhim? Usually when women spoke to himwith that tone, it was just before theyasked for something. Years ofconditioning threatened to kick in. Ofcourse she wasn’t flirting. Hayely knewwhere the line was and she hadn’tseemed tempted to cross it.

Hayely studied the panic on hisface. "I think I like your usual grouchy,antisocial self better." She turned on herheel and walked off ahead of him towardthe first boutique. "Come on," she calledwith a laugh.

Gary breathed a sigh of relief andcaught up to her with only a few longstrides. Was she as nervous as he

suddenly was? He wasn’t sure if hecould make the charade believable infront of an audience. He caught her handup firmly in his grasp and held on to itwith far more strength than wasnecessary.

"What happened to the charm?"she whispered.

"You’re my wife," he growled."Should I ask permission to hold yourhand in public?" Despite his tone, therewas the sound of a smile in his words.

"There now. That’s the fictitioushusband I know." Hayely gave Gary’shand a quick squeeze and walked intothe shop with him in tow.

As a little bell on top of the doorrang, the salesclerk immediatelyrecognized Gary and rushed toward thedoor. Her short black hair was so darkthat it might look almost blue in the rightlighting. Spiked with a hard styling gel,it shook with the impact of her heels onthe floor as she nearly tripped overherself to reach Gary first.

"Mr. Tarleton, welcome. What canwe help you find today?"

"Evening gowns," came hisclipped answer.

"Evening gowns we’ve got," theclerk said as she clasped her red-tippedfingers together and visibly fought to

calm her nerves. "We had a whole newline come in just this morning. Is thedress for your … sister?" She lookedmeaningfully toward Hayely and waited.

Gary smiled stiffly at Hayely, histeeth held a bit too tightly together."Would you mind handling this alone,honey? I’m out of my element amongstwomen’s clothing, and I need to pick upa few things."

Hayely frowned. Would he leavethis woman with the impression that hewas her brother? What was shesupposed to say to her if he did?

"I can do it," was all sheresponded.

"Good." He leaned down andplanted a sweet kiss directly on hermouth. Then he turned toward theawestruck clerk as he placed his creditcard into Hayely’s hand. "We’re a reallyclose family."

Hayely suppressed a shockedsmile as Gary walked back out the door.Her hand flew to the place his lips hadjust touched. Already she could hear theother clerks whispering frantically frombehind the counter. At first they thoughtHayely was a girlfriend, but one of themhad spotted the matching platinumwedding bands.

"Can you help me find a dress?"she finally asked.

The clerk came to her senses asHayely held up the plastic card with acredit limit she could only imagine inher hand. "I think we can find somethingsuitable. Is it for the Chamber banquet?"

Hayely nodded and said quietly,"I’ve never been to one before. I reallycould use your advice on what to wear."

The clerk took a look at Hayelyand desperately wanted to dislike her.After all, she’d come in on the arm of theman she and her friends had fantasizedabout for years. But in spite of herself,one look at Hayely’s sincerely warmexpression and a new train of thoughtcrossed her mind.

"Mrs. Tarleton, I presume? By thetime we get through with you, everysnobbish, highbrow socialite is going toturn green with envy. Just you watch."

"Thank you," Hayely whispered."You have no idea how much Iappreciate it."

The clerk held out her hand, "I’mCarla."

Hayely shook her hand. "Hayely."

"First things first. You’re going tobe surrounded by a lot of bleachedblonde testaments to plastic surgery.They’ll all be wearing black, red, or ifthis year is anything like last year—pink.

The sequins and spaghetti straps will allstart to look the same. You’ll wantsomething different. Something classy."

"Sounds fine with me. I don’t gowell with glitz."

Carla escorted Hayely into anenormous, posh dressing room. "Youwait right here and I’ll bring the dressesto you. I’ve already got a few ideas."

Hayely unbuttoned her clothes andtook the first gown over the curtain fromCarla. There was lavender followed bysomething scarlet. Black, silver, andgreen all fell by the wayside. Velvet,satin, and a filmy material like gauzewere all cast aside in no time. Some of

the outfits were too revealing, others notrevealing enough, and still more hung allwrong around her curves.

"We don’t have time to speciallydesign something for you by Wednesdaynight, but we can alter anything you’dlike," Carla offered hopefully.

Dress after dress, Hayely triedthem all on until at last she and Carlafound the perfect design. Just as thedecision was made, the bell over thedoor told them Gary had returned toreclaim his wife.

"Hayely Tarleton, just you waituntil your husband sees this dress—seesyou and that cute little figure of yours

shown off in this dress," Carlawhispered with a contagious excitement."He won’t even notice the rest of theparty."

"You have to promise not to showit to him. I want it to be a surprise." Shecouldn’t wait to see the look on Gary’sface when he saw the dress she’dchosen. She only hoped it would live upto his expectations—that she would.

Carla splayed her long fingers outover her heart. "Oh, it’s so romantic. Iwish I had a nice man to be romanticfor." On impulse she gave Hayely aquick hug. "You’re going to do great.And if you ever need anything else, don’thesitate to ask for me. Good luck."

Hayely thanked her and signed thecredit card slip while trying not to looktoo closely at the obscene total printedon it. Good luck? She had the feeling shewas going to need it.

Chapter Five

Monday morning started with its usualamount of chaos. For the first time,Hayely left her wedding band securelyon her finger. She’d been careful to takeit off and hide it in the zippercompartment of her purse before workeach day. But she knew she had to tell

the human resources department abouther marriage, and just seeing the ring onher finger brought Gary’s confidentvoice of reassurance to mind. They’dlaughed all the way home from theboutique the day before just fromimagining the reaction their news wassure to get.

Hayely locked the big front doorsof the house and tugged on them for goodmeasure. She’d hurried getting ready forwork that morning, but found she hadmissed Gary by an hour or two. Healways left so early. She wanted to getto the office as soon as possible anyway.As self-defense, she’d begun sendingKathy a good morning greeting via e-

mail so that the time of day markedplainly on the printout would show she’dcome in early. Hayely could onlyimagine what Kathy’s new tactics wouldbe once she caught on to Hayely’s job-preservation strategy.

As she stepped down into thecircular driveway, she froze. Shescanned the curb up and down, but herold rattletrap car was nowhere to beseen. Had someone stolen it? Mistaken itfor junk and towed it? Her mind reeled.The only vehicle left in the place was ashiny new BMW parked where her poorcar used to be. She wondered where thecar could have come from—it didn’tlook like something Gary would drive.

He would barely fit inside it!

A bit of white paper flapping fromunder the windshield wiper caught herattention and she walked hesitantlytoward the car. Its silver paint sparkledin the morning sunlight. She couldimagine someone driving in it high alongwinding ocean cliffs with the waterchurning far below. If she had a car likethis, she’d put the top down and tie along silk scarf around her neck just tofeel it blow along softly around her.

She sighed, pulled out the note andread it aloud. "Hayely," it began inGary’s handwriting, "I want you to havethis car. Call it a job perk. The keys arein the ignition."

Hayely folded up the note calmlyand stuffed it into her purse. Then shepulled open the car door with a giggleand jumped inside. The smell of newleather surrounded her as she ran herhand over the seats. New red leather."Wow," she said to herself, "the seatsare even heated."

And then another thought struckher. He’d gotten rid of her real car. Theirritation from that notion sent tiny stabsthrough her insides. She’d scrapedtogether the five-hundred-dollar downpayment to buy that car on her own, andthen eked out the remaining five hundreddollars in monthly payments all on her

own, too. It was the first thing she’d evercompletely earned by herself. And GaryTarleton hadn’t even bothered to consultwith her about it before giving it away.

As she turned the key in the car’signition, she couldn’t help but sigh again.It truly was a gorgeous car—exactlywhat she’d drive if she were really thewife of a wealthy businessman. Maybeshe would drive it for a day or two untilGary could get her real car back for her.After all, when people saw her in a carlike this, there would be no doubt she’dreally married the renowned GaryTarleton. Maybe that’s what he’d beenthinking all along.

As usual, Hayely was nearly the

first person to arrive in the office. Shewould have arrived earlier if she’d beenable to find all the gears in her new car alittle better. Someone had already put apot of coffee on to brew, but the lights inher area were off. No sooner than she’dturned on her computer, sent out theroutine e-mail and sorted through thefaxes, the rest of the staff began pouringin.

Her hands were almost clammy asshe watched the human resources staffsettle into their chairs. She drew in adeep breath and walked into themanager’s office.

"Do you have a minute?" Hayely

asked. "I just need to make some changesto my paperwork."

"Sure. What kind of changes?"

There was no backing out now. "Igot married," she answered, running thethree words together as if they were onesyllable.

The human resources manager gotup from her desk and walked over theHayely. "Congratulations," she squealed."I had no idea you were even engaged.What’s his name? What does he do?"

"Well—"

The sound of Kathy Mark’s

demanding voice rang from the doorwaybehind her. "There you both are. I don’tlike to see empty chairs. You know Dee,don’t you? She’s just made senior vicepresident and isn’t it wonderful, she’shere from Arkansas this week."

Hayely smiled at Kathy’s stout,square-faced daughter. It was commonknowledge that Dee Mark’s brief stintsas a bartender and used car saleswomanhad hardly prepared her for an executiveposition. It grated on Hayely’s nerveswhenever she was asked to preparedocuments that Dee should have beendoing herself. With her meager month ofexperience, Hayely thought it was likethe blind leading the blind—except one

of the blind was making about six figuresa year more than the other for the sameexpertise. No wonder the companyscrambled for work.

Dee gave a hearty laugh andthumped Hayely on the back. "Good tofinally see you in person."

"Nice to meet you, too," Hayelyreplied. Was that beer she smelled in theair?

The human resources managerspoke up. "Kathy, Hayely was justtelling me she’s gotten married."

Kathy’s eyebrows rose. "Oh?"

The manager asked, "What’s yournew last name?"

"I haven’t decided to change it yet.I might keep my maiden name for awhile."

Dee hooted again. "That’s what Idid, too. Mercy, we Mark women don’tstay married long enough for it to beworth a name change anyway!" Herruddy face turned even redder as shelaughed at her own joke. "What’s hisname?"

"Gary," Hayely answered softly.She had definitely picked up the scent ofalcohol again. She’d seen Dee’s brother,Darryl, in the office from time to time

and thought she’d caught of whiff ofbooze on his breath, too. It was sadreally, and in spite of herself, Hayelyfelt her dislike turn to pity.

Kathy looked coolly down hernose at Hayely. "Speaking of men namedGary, I hear Gary Tarleton is going tothe Chamber Banquet this Wednesdayevening. I’d like you to see if you canfind a good hairdresser for Dee."

Dee pointed to her short sandyblonde hair. "Can’t go looking this wayin front of Gary."

"You know Gary—Mr. Tarletonwell?" Hayely asked.

Kathy interrupted the start of herdaughter’s answer. "Of course we do.We’ve been friends for ages. From theimpression I got, he’d like to spendsome time with Dee this year."

"I see." Hayely fought to keep alaugh from building inside her. If sheknew anything, it was what Gary wouldthink of the entire Mark family. With hissense of family values and businessprotocol, he wouldn’t so much as look intheir direction.

Kathy squinted at Hayely’sclothing again and gave a tight littlesmile. "To tell you the truth, I wouldn’thave thought you’d have heard of GaryTarleton or the Chamber Banquet for that

matter. I’m surprised."

"I only recently heard of both."Hayely smoothed her dark grey skirt andchecked very, very subtly to see if heryellow silk shirt was still tucked incorrectly.

"Well then I’m sure you’ve heardhow prestigious it is for a firm to beinvited to attend the event."

Hayely bit into her lower lip andlooked demurely down at the floor tokeep from laughing. Gary had alreadytold her that every business in the statewas allowed to attend virtually at will.All they had to do was pay amembership fee.

She breathed and said, "Does Deehave a dress? I know of a very nice,exclusive boutique downtown. I canwrite down the directions if you’d like."

Dee pounded Hayely on the backagain. "That would be great. I’d love tofind something that would really standout—maybe a little strapless numberwith red sequins. Or how about pink? Iknow Gary’s mad for that color on theladies."

Hayely went back to her desk,cheerfully scribbled out an address, anddrew a quick map for Dee. If nothingelse, her helpfulness would keep Kathyand her truck-driveresque daughter outof the office and away from her. She

wouldn’t hear any threats about beingfired that day. She smiled broadly as shewatched the loathsome pair walk out thedoor.

The day flew by joyfully andbefore she knew it, she was virtuallysailing down the freeway in her newsports car. Too bad she’d have to give itup in just a few more months. It felt as ifthe machine were designed for her andher alone.

Hayely sprinted into the house,kicked off her shoes in the marble foyer,and ran upstairs to change clothes. Thedeliverymen had been at it again. Duringthe day, the formerly empty weight room

had been filled with top-notch trainingequipment and heavy sets of freeweights. She’d taken the liberty ofordering a treadmill and exercise bike,too. Thank goodness the deliverycompany had set up and installedeverything. Most of it looked too heavyfor her to even budge.

And the living room furniture hadarrived! Hayely was almost giddy. Theelectricians had obviously been by towire in the new overhead lighting, whichglowed with an understated cordiality.With the intricate carvings Gary haddesigned into the door frames andwindowsills, it was easy to add depthand elegance to the room.

She had chosen comfortable,richly upholstered chairs and a cream-colored sofa with a sophisticatedbrocade pattern that stood out just ashade darker against its background. Theornate fireplace screen, coffee table, andend tables hadn’t arrived yet. And moreleafy green houseplants weredesperately needed. But day-by-day, theempty house was transforming from anunloved address to a comfortable home.

Dressed in baggy sweatpants withher hair up in a messy ponytail, Hayelysurveyed the rooms around her. She wasfar ahead of schedule, so far that she justmight take a break from decorating.She’d picked up another new cookbook

at the library on the way home andcouldn’t wait to try out the key limecheesecake recipe in it.

She hummed along to the tune ofthe mixer as she whipped up first onecheesecake and then the next. Maybe shewas going overboard, but there werethree variations she just had to try whileshe had the time. Besides, she’d takenthe easy route with dinner and just madea pot roast with potatoes and carrots forCharlie and Gary. She’d sampled themall until she was stuffed.

With a smile, she brushed someflour from her hands onto her baggypants and stood back to admire herwork. Key lime, raspberry swirl, and

chocolate chip cheesecakes lined thecounter. Right on cue, she heard Charliewalk into the kitchen first, followedclosely behind by Gary. Were theycoming home earlier in the eveningsnow? It seemed so.

She dropped her dishrag onto thecounter and looked up. "Dinner’s on thetable, guys. Enjoy. I’ve been admiringthe pool for the last six weeks and I thinkI’m finally going to try it out."

She grinned and walked past themas casually as possible. Could Gary tellhow rattled she got when he walked intothe room after a day at some constructionsite or another? Was it obvious that the

dust in his hair and his sun-bronzed skinmade it hard not to simply stand andstare at him? He was easy on the eyes,she’d give him that.

•

"Who was that woman?" Charlieasked with a laugh.

Gary shook his head and grabbeda plate. "My guess is a woman whoseboss was out of the office all day. I sawthe witch driving downtown today."

"That bad, huh?"

Gary nodded between bites. "Shecan cook. You know, I’d tell her to quit

her job and just let me take care of herexpenses if I didn’t think she’d beoffended."

Charlie bit into a juicy, butter-soaked carrot and moaned as if inheaven. "I’ve been looking over theaccounting records for all thisdecorating she’s been doing."

"How much has this set me backso far?"

"She hasn’t come close tospending even half of what we thoughtit’d take. And you know what? Shehasn’t bought a thing for herself. Make-up, shampoo, books—her cell phonebill. Chewing gum, for Pete’s sake.

She’s been paying for all those thingswith her own cash. I saw some of thestore receipts sitting in the garbage canthe other day."

Gary paused with a chunk of onionon his fork. "You’re kidding?"

Charlie shook his head. "Nope."

"I understand independence, butshe’s contributing way more than hershare to the plan. She’s earned a littlefair treatment."

"Given all that zest forindependence, I wonder what shethought of the expensive car," Charliemused and shot a meaningful look at

Gary.

Gary tossed down his napkin. Hehadn’t considered that she might have alukewarm or even negative reaction tohis generosity. That she hadn’tmentioned the car at all couldn’t begood.

Gary walked in his sock feet allthe way across the house, through anewly magnificent exercise room, anddirectly to the indoor pool. When hadshe found the time to pick out weightlifting equipment? He smiled. Afterlifting lumber all day, he couldn’timagine what use he’d ever have for abench press. Maybe for all those otherdays when he wound up stuck behind a

desk.

The telltale scent of chlorinewafted toward him as he opened andclosed the door to the pool. Hayelyturned around to face him as she treadedin water up to her neck. The cobalt tilesunder her feet emphasized the water’sblue reflection along the walls.

"I haven’t been swimming inages," she said. "I’d forgotten how goodit could feel. This is like having accessto a private company spa or something."

Gary looked down through thewater. The pool was too sparsely lightedand the water rippled just enough toobscure his view of what looked to be a

simple black swimsuit.

"I wanted to talk to you about thecar."

Hayely swam to the edge of thepool and lifted herself out onto thecement edge to sit on her towel. "Iwanted to talk to you about that, too."She squeezed some water out of hermoisture-darkened hair and wrappedherself in another large towel.

He forced himself to meet her eyesand think of the reason he’d sought herout. "Did you drive it today?"

"I did. And I understand youprobably got it so that I’d look more the

part, but I have to admit I’m a little angrythat you junked my car. I worked hardfor it." She sputtered as she dabbed thewater off her face. "Personal property."

Her words caught him by surprise."Appearances were a definitely benefit.But mainly, I was afraid the heap youwere driving would break down on theroad somewhere. It wasn’t reliable and Ithought you’d like the style of the newone."

"But you should have at leasttalked to me first, Gary. My car mightnot have been much, but it was still mycar. You know, I could press grand theftauto charges I think. And what do yousuggest I do at the end of our contract

when I don’t have any transportation?"

He hated that she bristled everytime he offered her something harmless.No one should have grown accustomedto fighting at every turn just to be heard.Now she was looking at him with suchan expression of hurt stubbornness thathis heart turned over in his chest.

"Hayely," he whispered. "Yourcar is sitting in the garage. I askedCharlie to put it there for you. I’m notaccustomed to stealing my employees’property. I just wanted you to be safe onthe way to work."

Hayely dropped her defiant gaze."Thank you, I guess."

"Sometimes I think you mistakeacts of kindness for disrespect."

"I mistake them for charity." Shesmiled weakly. "I’m still getting used tothis being independent thing. And thiscontract of ours. But I’m trying not to gettoo comfortable in this house of yours."

Comfortable? That was the lastword Gary would use to describe howhe felt sitting next to his scantily clad"wife." "Do you at least like the car alittle?"

His gruff voice sounded so eagerto please that Hayely reached out andtook his hand in hers. "I do like it," shesaid as she looked into his hazel eyes.

"It’s perfect for me."

"So you’ll try to get used to it?"

She nodded.

"You know what I’m trying to getused to?" he asked in a murmur. "Theway you cook dinner for me and Charliewhen you definitely don’t have to. Eachand every piece of furniture picked outwith me in mind. Coming home to a realhome. I appreciate your work more thanyou know. I’d never expected so much."

Hayely’s eyes swam like mercuryas she looked up at his handsome face."For a man of few words, you seem toknow all the right ones."

"Yeah," he growled. "I don’t knowwhat’s wrong with me."

"Must be the chlorine fumes."

With a breath of resignation and asmile he pulled farther away from her."Back to business. Have you heardanything yet?"

"No. But the rumor mill should begrinding out gossip in grand style bytomorrow, I have a feeling."

"Did they say anything at workwhen you told them you’d gottenhitched?"

Hayely shook her head. "Not

really. They seemed to have other thingson their minds."

"Why don’t you just resign fromthat place?"

"And do what?" she asked.

"Interior design work for me—full-time until you find another job.You’ve done so much for me, why can’tyou let me do something for you?"

"Thanks, boss. But I have to pass.I want to find something I’m good at anddo it well. I can’t have someone alwayswalking ahead of me to smooth out allthe bumps in the road." She paused inthought. "Besides, I have to leave here in

just a few months. Best not to get tooattached—to this place."

"Forget about the interior designor any kind of job at my company then.Find some new adventure. You’d at leasthave a roof over your head. You’rewelcome to stay as long as you’d likeafter Mr. Bellmark sells me the boys’home."

"As what? An ex-fake-wife? Ahouseguest? People would really start totalk then."

"Let them. It was just an idea."Gary turned away as she jumped backinto the pool and the moment wasbroken. He stood to return to his cold

dinner. "Something to think on."

•

Hayely’s mind was far from herwork the next morning. Sure, she’darrived there early, but had done nothingbut stare blankly at her computer monitorever since. What was wrong with heranyway? Her conversation with Gary thenight before, that’s what.

She was a valued asset andemployee; he’d made that much clearbeside the pool the night before. He’dsaid exactly what he should have said,so everything should have been well andgood. And yet the monitor continued tohold her unseeing attention.

A sudden cacophony of screechingfemale voices jarred her from her stuporand she sat up straight in her chair. Sherecognized Kathy’s and Dee’s voicesimmediately, but it took a moment topinpoint the chief financial officer’s andthe human resource manager’s in themix. She thought there might be a coupleothers standing there, too.

Dee’s voice was nothing betterthan a controlled bellow most of thetime. "… and then one of the clerks toldme that he’s bringing a date or somethingto the banquet with him. Can you believeit?"

The CFO chimed in. "Did they saywho she was?"

"No," Dee said petulantly. "Theysaid the clerk who had helped her knewmore, but it was her day off and shehadn’t told them anything."

"Typical incompetence," Kathyadded. "None of them even recognizedher."

"That’s right. They’d never seenher before. They said she was reallybeautiful, though."

"He can’t be serious about her,"Kathy reasoned. "If he were actuallydating some out-of-state floozy again, itwould have been in the papers by now.Everyone would have already seen her

picture."

"Maybe she’s a relative?" one ofthe other voices suggested.

Dee’s voice took on aconspiratorial tone. "One of them evenswore she saw a wedding ring."

"On whose finger?"

"Gary’s?"

"The mystery woman’s?"

"Whose?"

Hayely smiled into her hand. Thewhispers were flying so fast and furious

that she could scarcely keep up withthem all. She took a sip of coffee andhoped the pack would stay just out ofsight. She didn’t know if she could resistbaiting them if they walked around thecorner and included her in theconversation.

"I didn’t think to ask," Deeanswered as a hush fell.

Kathy rounded the corner andstood in front of Hayely’s desk. "Didyou arrange a hairstyling appointment forDee?"

Hayely handed her a card with allthe information on it. "She can get inabout two hours before the banquet

begins."

Kathy swiped the card away."Fine. I have another assignment foryou." She tossed a résumé and a seriesof yellow sticky notes onto Hayely’sdesk. "I want you to send a letter to thisman at this address." She pointed to oneof the notes. "You’ll have to figure outmy handwriting because I don’t havetime to explain it to you. Tell him wecan provide the qualifications he needsfor his projects. I want you to add thecredentials on this piece of paper here tothis résumé and include it with theletter."

Hayely stared at the employee’srésumé for a moment and read through

the notes. "I think there may be somekind of mistake here. This employeedoesn’t have that degree or any of thosecertifications—"

Kathy put her hands on her hips foremphasis. Her voice was rising to theverge of a yell. "Have you looked at mybusiness card lately? It says ‘president’and that means I can do any damn thing Iwant. Maybe if you ever run your owncompany someday, which I doubt, you’llunderstand."

"I might be able to find a differentrésumé—" Hayely had a fleeting urge tostand up and tell the woman what shethought of her, but something inside her

shrunk. She knew that half the people inthe office were listening to Kathy’streatment of her just then. How couldthey not overhear every humiliatingword?

Kathy cut her off again. "Don’t getargumentative with me, sweetie. I’ll dowhatever it takes to get that contract."With that, she walked off in a huff downthe hall.

As was always the case after oneof Kathy’s tirades, all the staff lookeddown with red faces at their desks,afraid to look up at each other. Hayelyhad seen her boss abuse people ahundred times over, but never had itbeen directed so hostilely toward her.

Hayely walked in a daze to the breakroom to wash out her coffee cup. Whatshould she do? Try to talk to Kathy? Gohome for the day? She had no idea.

With a fresh cup of coffee in hershaking hand, she started back aroundthe maze of hallways to her desk. Just asshe approached the human resourcesdepartment, Kathy’s voice reached herthrough a crack in the door to themanager’s office.

"Place an ad online," Kathyhissed. "Let’s start interviewing peopleas soon as possible. I just can’t toleratethat kind of disobedience. We’ll getsomeone lined up for her job before we

let her go. No downtime."

"Don’t you think we should giveher some kind of reprimand or training?"the other woman suggested.

"No. I want the unprofessionallittle goodie goodie out of here. If I can’ttrust her to simply follow myinstructions without questioning them,then there’s no point in having her here."

Hayely’s hand flew to her mouth.She was actually going to be fired forhaving a sense of ethics? Hayely ranback to her desk and did the first thingshe could think of—grab her purse andleave.

She passed the coweringreceptionist who looked up at her withunderstanding. "If Kathy asks where Iam, tell her I got suddenly sick to mystomach and went home for the day."

Hayely was in tears by the timeshe walked through the front door toGary’s house. She sat down at thekitchen table with the remaining half ofthe raspberry cheesecake and a spoon. Itlooked like Gary and Charlie had eatenthe other cakes the night before.

She pulled the tissue box closer toher as her sobs came one after the other.She’d messed up everything. No onewanted her, and with the way KathyMark tried to blacklist ex-employees,

she’d never find a decent job in this cityif she tried. She knew Kathy would fireher within the next couple of weeks.Gary would hire her—he’d alreadyoffered. But she didn’t want to work forhim. She couldn’t quite understand why,but being treated like hired help by GaryTarleton after the six months were upsounded like nothing short of torture.The thought of her situation with Garybrought on a whole new wave of tears.

•

Out on the highway, Gary pushedthe accelerator down hard with hisheavy work boots. The truck’s bigengine roared toward the house as he

shifted into overdrive. He almost neverheard from his gardener during the day,but the man had called to tell him he’dseen Hayely walk into the house crying.Had she been in an accident? Hadsomething happened to a familymember? When the gardener didn’t haveany answers, a hundred more terrifyingoptions raced through Gary’s mind.

He turned the truck sharply into thedriveway and hit the brakes with a loudsqueal. He banged the thick door shutbehind him as he lumbered for the house.As he crossed the foyer, he heard theunmistakable sound of a woman’ssniffling.

Hayely wiped her eyes quickly

and forced a smile as Gary burst into theroom. With his shirt half untucked andhis eyes wide, he paused and stoodawkwardly.

"Are you alright?" he breathed outas he walked over to her.

Hayely nodded vigorously anddabbed at her nose. "I just had a reallybad morning. I’ll be fine."

"No one’s hurt then?"

"No. Just my pride."

Gary exhaled harshly in relief ashe sat down beside her. Should he puthis arm around her? He had absolutely

no experience dealing with upsetfemales, and this one had progressed allthe way to crying.

"Tell me what happened."

The rich, full resonance of hisvoice instantly began to work its magicon her and the tears slowed. Slowly,haltingly, Hayely began to describeeverything that had happened to her thatmorning and everything she’d witnessedover the past weeks.

"I’ve never worked in anotheroffice," she concluded. "Is it supposed tobe like that?"

A muscle near Gary’s jaw

clenched and unclenched. So help him, ifhe saw the witch again he’d strangle herwith his bare hands. How dare someonelike that Mark woman make someone aswonderful as Hayely cry? The womanwas trash in an expensive suit andHayely was so thoroughly kind—so kindshe didn’t know how to stand up forherself at the right times.

"No," he soothed. "It’s neversupposed to be like that. No one isentitled to treat another person that way,company president or otherwise." Hescooted his chair closer to Hayely’s andput his arms around her at last. "Andfrom what you described, it sounds verymuch like she’s defrauding her clients."

"It’s not just clients," she sniffed."I’ve seen her print out one jobdescription and salary range, and aftersomeone accepts that job on those terms,she changes everything on them the weekafter."

Gary shook his head. "Trust mewhen I tell you this will come back tohaunt her. When word gets out aroundthe industry—and it will—you’ll see thebest example of instant karmaimaginable. You don’t need to beruthless to be successful."

He bent down without thinking,stopping himself just before he wasabout to kiss the top of her head onimpulse. He accidentally breathed in the

delicate scent of her flowery shampooand hoped she was too upset to noticewhat he’d almost done.

"What do you want to do,Hayely?" he asked when she fell intosilence.

"I don’t know, but it definitelyisn’t shuffling paperwork. I went toschool for a degree in biology. Did Iever tell you that? My father wanted meto go on to medical school. I hatedbiology. Pre-med would have been evenworse."

"You have to find your passionand then build a career from it."

Hayely blew her noseunceremoniously. "How did you makeyour money, Gary? I have no idea howyou did all this."

"When I came to live with Mr. andMrs. Bellmark, they arranged for me tomake a dollar a week sweeping floors. Isaved it up like a grade school miser.No candy for me that year. When I hadfifty dollars, I asked Mr. Bellmark whatI should do with it and he told me aboutsomething called the stock market."

"You invested in Wall Street atage ten?"

"Yup. And I quadrupled mymoney. So I cashed out the original

investment and reinvested the rest. WhenI’d made enough money, I cashed somemore out and bought a car."

"A car? You couldn’t even drive itat that age."

"It was a mess. I bought it cheapand spent my evenings learning how torepair it. I conned a local mechanic intoletting me borrow some tools. When Ihad it looking the way I wanted, I soldit."

"Sounds like you had business inyour blood from the start."

"Well, I turned fifty dollars intoseveral thousand dollars within another

year, if that’s what you mean. To make along story short, I kept buying andselling. Started with small pieces ofland, then houses, and so on. And ofcourse, I kept up with the stock marketinvesting, too."

"So how did you wind up startingyour own business?" she asked.

"After fixing up all those houses, Ifigured I could do a better job buildingthem from the ground up. I don’t knowhow Mr. Bellmark did it, but he got meinto college early. Scholarships. Loans.But I got my degree in architecture andwent on to a master’s in businessadministration. The rest was easy. It’sjust the first million or so that’s hard to

earn—and I’d done that by the time Iturned twenty-three."

•

Hayely studied him with respect. Itamazed her that this big body with itscallused hands and beard stubble hadsuch a brilliant and wise soul hiddeninside it. He wasn’t the money-hungryexecutive ogre she’d thought he was atthe start of their deal.

On impulse, she reached up andran her fingers carefully down the sideof his face. It was too late to fire her atthis late stage in the game and shewanted to touch him the way a friendmight. His sweet self-confidence calmed

her to the core. If he could flourish in anorphanage, there was no way shewouldn’t survive an issue soinsignificant as Kathy Mark.

"Thank you, Gary," she whispered."No one else could have made me feelbetter." She leaned forward on impulseand shyly kissed his cheek.

Gary sat back in shock. "I don’tknow what I did, but whatever it was, itmust have worked—because you’resmiling again."

Chapter Six

Hayely rolled over in bed and stretchedlike a sleek housecat in the earlysunlight. The morning had come all toosoon for her taste. She’d called in sickthe night before, leaving a voicemail tosay she wouldn’t be coming in to theoffice. Why should she bother? She

already knew her days were numbered,and she didn’t plan to return until shehad just the right resignation speechscripted out for her soon-to-be ex-boss.

Besides, the Chamber ofCommerce Spring Banquet was thatevening and she wanted to spend the dayrelaxing and getting ready for it atleisure. Several times she’d peeked intoher closet at the dress that hung there.Every time she saw it, she felt likeCinderella going to the ball. Even thoughshe’d been to a few ornate parties, shedidn’t think she’d ever owned a gownquite that dazzling in her life.

She pulled a cover up over herwhen she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," she called out.

Gary opened the door and pokedhis head through. "I had a feeling youwere sleeping in today." The cover slidoff to one side and exposed one of herslender legs to his view and he quicklylooked away. Then he looked back. Alot.

"I have to plan my great farewellspeech for Ms. Mark, you know." Shewasn’t awake enough yet to notice thelook in his eyes at first.

"Ah."

Then she noticed. It was as ifnowhere he looked was right, and he

didn’t know where to rest his gaze. Hecould see the silky skin around her neckand collarbone now, too, and her glossybrown hair was wild around her, but shedidn’t change positions.

"Gary?"

"Be ready by six-thirty."

Hayely smiled as he shut the door.Was he as on edge as she was about thebanquet that evening? After all, as soonas they arrived, the news would spreadlike wildfire and everyone in the citywould know her as Mrs. Tarleton. She’dbeen very comfortable with her lifelonganonymity.

She crawled out of bed andwalked into her bathroom in search ofher toothbrush. She’d never spent a dayalone in the mansion before, but she’dfilled it up with enough grown-up toysthat she couldn’t imagine anyone beingbored there for even a minute.

There was an entire media roomupstairs with a movie screen that sliddown at the touch of a button. Next to theexercise room downstairs, there was asmaller room with a billiards table,dartboard and a shelf full of boardgames. But then, she might just curl upon the sofa and watch TV all day. Theluxury of doing absolutely nothing wasquite the temptation.

Still in her nightshirt, she walkedleisurely down the halls. In anothermonth, she’d have every roomcompletely furnished, painted andarranged just so. The atmospheredefinitely improved each week andHayely was far ahead of schedule.

She went downstairs and lookedinto Gary’s den. Had he brought insomething new of his own? She steppedinside and crossed the room to the farwall for a better look. There in matchinggold frames were three pictures hangingin a row. There was a photo of Gary andCharlie as boys standing together in frontof a dilapidated car. Even so many yearsago there was no mistaking their

expressions—Gary with his seriousscowl and Charlie with a wide grin thatmade his ears look too big for his head.

The next picture showed anelderly couple whom Hayely had neverseen before. They were holding hands infront of a large hotel-like building andshe supposed they had to be Mr. andMrs. Bellmark. But the third picture wasthe one that startled her, the one shecouldn’t stop staring at. It was one of theshots taken in front of the fountain. Thephotographer had captured the two ofthem turned toward one another, his handon hers, smiles lighting their eyes—whowould ever guess they were only play-acting? Gary’s hazel eyes even looked

like those of a man deeply in love.

Hayely’s own eyes misted overand she marched straight toward thekitchen, the place she felt most at homein the house. Out came the mixer, thecutting board and half a dozen randomingredients. Instinctively she choppedand stirred her way into a therapeuticcalm. Cherry-chocolate éclairs was thesolution for all her problems. Or so shewished.

She put down her spoon as tearsthreatened to well up again. "Nothing inmy life is real right now," she said toherself as she looked around the bigkitchen. "I think I might miss this placewhen I’m gone. What’s worse, I might

even miss Gary."

She shook her head after venturingthe words out loud. Lately it seemed thateverything she said or thought made thereality of her situation more solid andterrifyingly real. She’d fooled herselfinto thinking her emotional struggles hadbeen entirely caused by an uncertaincareer path, when the truth was thatKathy Mark didn’t concern her nearly asmuch as she had anticipated. A careerwould come. Her thoughts were on Garyfor the moment, and she had the fleetingfeeling that life was passing her bywhile she did her best to be straight-laced and professional.

After a while, she put the éclairsinto the refrigerator and headed backupstairs to get ready for the banquet. Shelighted a large vanilla-scented candle onthe edge of her bathtub and turned on thewater into the shiny porcelain and goldoval. She hadn’t done much to decoratethis particular bathroom, but it was nexton her list. She tugged her nightshirt offover her head and slipped into the water.It was only a little after noon and shecould soak like this for hours if sheliked. She didn’t even bother to turn onthe bathroom lights. Let the candlelightlull everything bad away, she thought asshe closed her eyes.

•

Downstairs, Gary clicked the frontdoor shut and flung his boots with theround laces scattering messily into acorner. He couldn’t think of the last timehe hadn’t worked straight through lunch,but he couldn’t get Hayely’s image toleave him alone. He almost couldn’tsleep at night knowing she was in thenext room. Sure, he could eat—she sawto that with all her amazing recipes, butsleep was out of the question.

All he did the night before wastoss and turn, and she might as well havebeen a million miles away as just on theother side of that wall. The whole thingwas maddening. He had never had timefor this kind of distraction, much less

met a woman who could hold his interestlong.

He’d even asked her to stay onafter the six months were up, and she’drejected his offer without even giving ita thought. But then the next day she’dturned to him for reassurance and evenlet him comfort her. He couldn’tunderstand her for the life of him.

He breathed in the air around himand knew she’d been baking again. Butthere weren’t any lights on in the house.Maybe she’d gone on in to work afterall. For Hayely’s sake, he hoped not.Gary jogged up the staircase toward hisroom.

The door to Hayely’s room stoodwide open. He almost passed by, butthen he thought he saw something flicker,something beckoning to him in the mirrorabove her dressing table. A candleburning in the adjoining bathroom castits reflection through the open door andinto the mirror. And there was justenough light to illuminate the bathtub itsat on.

Gary couldn’t breathe. He couldn’tthink. He couldn’t even move for fearHayely would notice him. All he coulddo was stare into the ornate glass at thevision it held. Hayely’s brown hairfloated loosely in the water around hershoulders. Her head rested against the

back slope of the tub and her longeyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.Thousands of bubbles hid the rest of herfrom view, and she giggled as one ofthem fell through the air and landed onher nose.

He tiptoed slowly back the wayhe’d just come. He would be late for hishair appointment if he didn’t leave nowanyway. And it wouldn’t do Hayely a bitof good to think he’d been spying on her.But it had done him good. Every time hesaw her, he saw something new in her tothink about.

•

Hayely’s grey eyes fluttered open

at the creaking sound outside the door.She didn’t move a muscle at first andthen slowly pulled the plug on thebathtub. She’d been thinking of Garyeven though she thought she shouldn’t.Was he really there? No, he couldn’t be.

She took a long time to blow herhair dry and then brought it up into asophisticated twist high on her head.She’d found some tiny hairpins withpearls attached to the top. When she heldher hair in place with them, all anyonecould see was a delicate interlacing ofpearls against her rich brunette hair.

She took the dress off its hangerand stretched it out across the bed. Itwas the white-gray color of moonlight

captured in a fine chiffon-like fabricshe’d never seen before. Satiny royalblue flowers flowed down the material,demanding to be shown off during awarm spring evening.

Hayely picked up the dress andheld it against her in front of the mirror.The halter style top would fasten behindher neck with three slick blue buttonsand cause the fabric to fold in soft, lowwaves across her chest while leavingher arms completely bare.

Her back would also be exposed.She’d never been bold enough to wear abackless gown before. It was cut out allthe way to a scoop below her waistline

just before it found her curves andglided sleekly the rest of the way downto her ankles.

The clerk, Carla, had talked herinto a satin choker necklace and elbow-length blue satin gloves that matched theshade of the tiny flowers in her dress.Pure glamour, Hayely thought, pureCinderella secretary going to the ballwith her handsome construction workerprince. Fitting. It was all a fairy taleanyway. At the stroke of midnight, or sixmonths in her case, everything wouldchange.

When she’d procrastinated longenough, she slipped into the dress andbuttoned those three little buttons at the

back of her neck. She tucked her feet intoa pair of strappy little royal blue shoeswith what she thought was a very trendyheel. With a tug and a snap, the necklaceand gloves were in place.

She inhaled deeply, loving theway the faintest shadow of cleavageshowed over the folds of fabric whenshe did. She left the room that was stillhers for a while longer, and descendedthe staircase with great care not to catchher hem under a heel. When she lookedup, she saw that her deliberate pace hadbeen well worth it.

Charlie and Gary both stood at thebottom of the stairs in their tuxes,

looking ready to whisk her away to thebanquet. She smiled at Charlie first andthen turned her attention to Gary. He wasfreshly shaven and his hair had beentrimmed shorter in a new cut that wasvery, very attractive on him. Without allthe usual stubble and grime, the god-likeplanes of his face were even morecaptivating than in the picture she’d seenon the Internet.

•

"Wow," was all Gary could say.Hayely really did look like a movie starfrom days gone by. Her bare skinglowed where she must have rubbedsome kind of shimmery lotion into it,something that smelled divinely of sweet

spring flowers. And that berry-coloredlipstick stained her mouth a particularlykissable shade in his opinion.

Charlie elbowed him and said,"You look stunning, Hayely. You’ll turnthe whole town on its ear tonight." Heelbowed Gary again. "Say something,"he encouraged.

"Wow." Gary caught Hayely’sgloved hands in his. He grinned proudlyat Charlie. "To all of society, this is mywife."

Gary placed his warm hand at thesmall of her back and led her outside towhere a shiny black limo awaited thethree of them. Seated closely beside her,

Gary held onto Hayely’s hand tightly asthe limo moved smoothly over thedriveway pavement and out onto theroad.

Charlie watched the two closely.There was no doubt in his mind; Garya n d Hayely had something passingbetween them that had nothing to do withbusiness. Hayely couldn’t stop touchingGary, whether a fingertip on his arm orher knee resting beside his leg, thecontact was never broken.

When Charlie had first met Garyin the orphanage, he knew he’d behavedlike nothing better than a scraggly, red-haired tag-along. But in no time flat,Gary had informed him he’d seen

Charlie’s gift for details and wanted himto run a corporate office one day.

That was Gary’s gift—givingpeople self-respect, security and a senseof purpose. It was high time someonecould return the favor to him. He just hadto wonder if Gary would recognize theopportunity even if she walked down thestairs and into his limo.

"Are you ready for the big publicappearance?" Charlie asked at last. "Thegreat unveiling?"

Gary nodded. "What’s in the oldbag of tricks for this year?"

Charlie laughed. "I don’t know

how we’re going to top last year’s pinkfiasco. Maybe this year I’ll tell them allyou like women who really know how toslather on the make-up. Or, you know,I’ll bet we could triple Nevada’scosmetic surgery market with a singlecomment."

•

Hayely looked at Charlie in shockas she realized the impact of theirpractical jokes. "You guys are terrible.You’ll have the whole town scraping offeye shadow with chisels by next year’sbanquet. And I don’t even want to thinkabout that other inspiration you just had."

Gary squeezed her hand again.

"Just a guess here, but I think the news ofour marriage is probably going to beenough entertainment for this year."

The limo pulled up at the guestentrance to the hotel at which the eventwas always held. Coming in through theside door gave the appearance of a muchlower-key evening than Hayely knewawaited them. That illusion wasshattered as Hayely, Gary and Charliehanded away their coats and walkedinside a ballroom artistically convertedfor the occasion.

At the head of the room, a longtable set up for the Chamber ofCommerce officers sat empty except fora few well-placed microphones and

crystal pitchers of water withcondensation rolling down the sides.Flowers cascaded from corners andpillars. Ice sculptures glistened on thehors d’oeuvres tables. The greatremainder of the room was speckledwith round tables draped in white linen,but there seemed to be no particularassigned seating.

At the back of the room around thedance floor and near the bar, hundreds ofpeople mingled, talked and sipped fromchampagne flutes. Others sat here andthere at some of the empty tables.

"I’ll go on in and grab us a table,"Charlie said.

Hayely rested her hand on Gary’sarm in her best imitation of a wifelygesture. "You go on ahead, too. I’mgoing to visit the restroom first. I’ll findyou."

•

Gary nodded and followedCharlie to a table with a mediocre viewof the main table. They didn’t want to betoo conspicuously up front in case theyfound a way to slip out early. Charlieordered a glass of wine from a waiter ashis friend sat down beside him.

"So have you told her yourfeelings for her aren’t so businesslike?"Charlie asked quietly.

"I have no idea what you’retalking about."

"And have you asked her to forgetthat insane agreement and try being withyou just because she wants to?"

"There’s nothing going on,Charlie. You’re pushing your luckagain." Gary paused for a moment inthought. "Actually I did ask her to staypast the six months and she said no."

"You did? And she what?"

Gary’s voice got even lower."Apparently she doesn’t want to becomean interior designer."

"You mean you sounded like aboss extending an employee’s contract,"Charlie said flatly.

"What more could I do? It’s atouchy situation. She could sue me if Icross the line. Or go to the media."

"Aw, come on. I’ve never heardanything more ridiculous come out ofyour mouth." Charlie paused as Garylooked at him. "Don’t try that Tarletonglare with me. I’m the only one aroundyou who’ll tell it to you straight and soI’m going to. You’re going to letsomething precious slip by if you don’twake up and pursue it."

"This isn’t the place for this

discussion. Someone could overhearyou." But Charlie’s words nagged athim. They mingled with the memory ofthe brief kiss on their wedding day, theimage of Hayely’s skin glistening in thebathtub, the sound of his heart thuddingin anticipation of her hand touching hisarm throughout dinner.

As soon as Charlie and Garysettled into their seats, the crowd at thefringe of the room seemed to shift.Suddenly, all the tables around the twomen filled with guests. Had they actuallybeen waiting to see where Gary Tarletonwould sit before choosing seats of theirown? Gary flinched and ordered a cupof coffee just as he saw a flashbulb go

off from somewhere across the room. Ashe set the cup down, the intrusive flashfrom an unseen camera went off again.

"Let the festivities begin," hemuttered dimly and looked back to thedoorway for some sign of Hayely.

•

Hayely emerged from the ladiesroom and wove her way through thecrowd. The amount of people in theballroom had increased greatly in only afew moments and the scattered tablesthat had been empty before she’d leftGary’s side were now filled. A trio ofviolinists stood at the back of the roomplaying a soothing tune and the volume

of laughter and animated discussionsrose considerably.

"Excuse me," she said more thanonce as she turned first one way and thenthe next. Where was he anyway? MaybeCharlie’s thick red hair would be easiestto spot. She stopped and scanned theroom before ducking past another clusterof guests.

A s Hayely took another carefulstep, the crowd parted slightly in front ofher. There, standing right before hereyes, was the one person she hadn’tconsidered running into—Kathy Mark.From the look on her boss’ face, she’dseen Hayely as well. Sternly, critically,the older woman inspected Hayely’s

expensive gown as if mentally picking itapart seam by seam.

Kathy approached Hayely with afrozen smile on her face, but there wasno mistaking the absolute rage in herpale blue eyes. "What the hell do youthink you’re doing here?" she demandedthrough a frozen smile.

Hayely was stunned, temporarilyat a loss. "I’m going inside to thebanquet." Where was that speech she’dstarted rehearsing in her head? Shecouldn’t remember a word of it. All thatbubbled into her mind were words toofoul to say aloud in polite society. Andwhere was Gary? If ever a rescue was in

order, it was now.

Kathy stepped toward Hayely andher anemic yellow satin suit rustled asshe moved. "I did not invite you to attendwith K. L. Mark Enterprises. We arewell represented by professionals whowon’t embarrass us. How dare you showup uninvited?"

Hayely looked up behind Kathy.Darryl stood sheepishly a few stepsbehind his mother. A gold chain showedunderneath his partially opened tuxedoshirt and the heavy scent of aftershavecouldn’t hide that he’d already becomewell acquainted with the bar. He shovedhis hands in his pockets and trieddesperately not to look at anything other

than his shoes.

Next to her brother, Dee lookedtorn between making a bawdy joke andtaking a step forward to stand besideKathy. She shifted uncomfortably in aknee-length black and white sequinedswing dress that fit too snugly throughher broad shoulders. Her sandy blondehair now had short bangs that werestriped with whitish highlights. Guessshe found her way to the hairdresser,Hayely noted grimly.

"I’m not here for K. L. Mark,"Hayely said with a great deal of calm inher voice. From the outside, sheappeared unruffled and confident with

her head held high when she spoke. Heruncomplicated beauty had already caughtthe attention of several people in theroom, and they all turned to watch withinterest at what was obviously aconfrontation in the making.

"No, you most certainly are not,"Kathy interrupted with a tonereminiscent of a hiss. "I can’t believe Iever hired someone of yourincompetence."

Hayely folded her hands neatly infront of her, the blue gloves lending amanner of poise to her stance. "As I wassaying, I’m here with my husband."

"Your husband?" Kathy nearly

snorted as she opened up her mouth tosay something cruel. Hayely fullyexpected to hear the words "you’refired." She could almost see themhanging in the air attached to a cartoonballoon over Kathy’s head when thewoman’s expression suddenly changedand her mouth snapped shut. In place ofthe villainess Hayely knew so well,appeared a simpering woman who all atonce batted her lashes and gestured withgreat lightness.

As Gary took his place nearHayely’s side, a hush ripped through thec r o w d . "Something wrong?" Hisglittering hazel eyes bored into Kathy’swashed-out grey-blue ones.

Kathy smiled sweetly and flittedher hand in the air toward him. "No. It’sjust that decent people are so hard tofind these days. You know how it is,don’t you, Gary?"

Hayely virtually held her breath.Should she say something? No, shedidn’t need to. Gary would tell Kathywhat he thought of her, what they boththought of her. Maybe he’d turn anddeclare to the whole party all the shadythings he knew about Kathy’s businesspractices. Then the realization stuckHayely—no one at the office had anyidea that Gary Tarleton was her Gary.Even Kathy hadn’t put two and twotogether yet.

With a smug smirk, Gary slid hispowerful arm around Hayely and pulledher close to his side. The lustrous metalof his wedding band shone with anunabashed gleam on his hand as he ranhis fingers smoothly down her bareupper arm and back to her shoulder.Hayely leaned securely against herhusband, her curves fitting into hismasculine angles so perfectly that theconnection was obvious. The hush thathad previously taken the room nowshifted to a high-pitched dissonance ofunderstanding.

Kathy’s smile fell sickeninglyfrom her face and her eyes widened, thennarrowed just as quickly. She took a

single step backward as the horror of thesituation drifted over her. Hayely felt asif she were watching her boss’ reactionin slow motion. Then with amazingcalculation and control, Kathy replacedher mask of amiability.

"I was speaking of someone elseof course. We love our Hayely, don’twe?" She turned toward Darryl and Deewho nodded enthusiastically in support.

Without a sound, Gary turnedHayely toward him. She saw outrightamusement in his eyes before he kissedher softly on the lips for all to witnessand guided her away toward their table.

"See. Who needs words?" he

asked with a roguish grin.

Hayely released her breath. "Thatwas priceless. Thank you." She couldn’texpress the warmth and appreciation shefelt under the protection of Gary’s publicsupport. But then, she wouldn’t haveexpected anything less from him.Honorable to the core.

Gary and Hayely joined Charlie atthe table just as dinner arrived. Waiterssuddenly covered the room, working inefficiently orchestrated rows to place ameal on a white china plate in front ofeach guest.

"But why didn’t you yell at her?Or tell her off?" Hayely asked quietly. If

her father had been in Gary’s place, shewas sure his not-so-dulcet tones wouldhave been heard for blocks.

"Why didn’t you?" he counteredwith curiosity in his voice.

"I just couldn’t. I wanted to hurther, to get revenge somehow, but I justcouldn’t. Not even to her, especially inpublic."

"So you took the high road. Shewouldn’t have," Gary assured. "The pathshe’s on leads nowhere. Let her walkstraight into her demise all by herself.You’ve done all you could to get alongwith her in that office. Let it go."

Hayely bit into her bland chickenand swallowed thoughtfully. "What am Igoing to do now? I don’t have a job."

Charlie took a swig of wine."Easy. Cook, decorate, swim—whateveryou want until you figure out what sort ofcareer to start."

"You make it sound so simple,"she said.

"It should be. I don’t think Garyminds a bit if his wife works."

Gary glared at him and whispered,"Of course, you could also stay on withme past the six months."

Hayely smiled wistfully andsawed off another bite of chicken. Tolisten to Charlie talk, a person mightthink she and Gary had a chance atsomething. Their act had fooled evenhim on some level. After looking aroundthe room, who there would guess thatshe and Gary would live together, laughtogether from time to time—all for just amatter of a few more weeks.

"Hey, congratulations, buddy." Am a n Hayely had never seen beforepatted Gary vigorously on the back. "Ihad no idea you’d tied the proverbialknot. Way to go." He walked away afterwinking at Hayely.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"No idea. Might be a salesman Imet last year. Don’t worry, you get usedto that sort of thing after a while."

As the meal wound down andpeople felt free to move around again,the line finding its way toward Gary andHayely grew. Hayely didn’t recognizeanyone. She was in a room full ofstrangers who all seemed to know her.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs.Tarleton."

"What wonderful news."

"I’m so happy for you."

Hayely found herself receivinghandshakes and hugs as if she were inthe reception line at a wedding. Thescreech of a microphone being draggedalong the front table brought thesocializing to a slow halt.

•

The members in charge of thelocal Chamber of Commerce took theirplaces at the front of the room. Someonerepeatedly clinked the edge of a butterknife against one of the crystal pitchersuntil the guests settled back into theirseats. With the attention directed towardhim, the president pulled the microphoneup higher as he stood.

He said, "Before we start theawards ceremony, I think we have somespecial news to announce. It seemswhile we weren’t looking, someone nearand dear to us, a favorite past Chamberpresident no less, went off and gothimself hitched. Gary and Hayely, whydon’t you stand up?"

Gary stood, pulled Hayely’s chairback and helped her proudly from herseat. Here you go, Nevada—my wife, hethought. The more he thought the word,the more intimidating it sounded to him.Then an entire lifetime with Hayelystretched out ahead of him for just theblink of an eye, and the thought startledhim.

Together they smiled and noddedto the room.

"Ladies and gentleman, I’d like topresent Mr. and Mrs. Gary Tarleton!"

His heart filled his chest tocapaci ty. The announcement. Thosewords. They felt perfectly rightsomehow.

•

The room erupted in applause andwhistles before the evening became acomplete blur for Hayely. Everythinghappened happily and fast in theballroom. All the awards were given outbefore she knew it, and she could hardly

smile enough when Gary’s firm walkedaway with Business of the Year.

True to form, his acceptancespeech was brief and humble, butHayely could have wept when hisappreciative gaze never once strayedfrom her as he spoke. She didn’t seehow anyone else in the room could havemissed it either.

With the golden plaquesdistributed, everyone moved to thedance floor and the bar. She encounteredpeople of all motivations as she mingledthrough the crowd with Gary, once againgiving her best impersonation of a wife.Some people shot her looks of openjealousy. Others seemed genuinely

pleased about their marriage. But mostassessed Gary as if he were acommodity. She thought he deserved somuch more.

When they neared the edge of thecrowd, Gary let go of her hand and hisfingertips slid down Hayely’s palm asthey lost contact. Yet something elseconnected in that moment and Garyturned to look down at Hayely. Therewas a gleam in his eyes that told hervolumes when she met his gaze.

For a minute, the crowd seemed tofade and all that was left was therealization of the very real, heatedfascination that passed between her and

this beautiful man who didn’t look at allas if he were pretending.

"Hayely—" he began and thendidn’t seem to know what to say.

"Let’s go home," she whisperedinto his ear. "Haven’t we put in enoughof an appearance?"

If it weren’t for his keen instinctswhere character was concerned, Hayelycouldn’t imagine how Gary could existin such an assemblage. Would they havegravitated toward him so if he were onlya middleclass construction worker? Sheknew she would. With one look at him,she knew she would. The blatant desirein his eyes sent a ripple through her.

For the time that passed during thatlook, Hayely and Gary shoved the worldaway. He took her hand again as theymade their way to the exit.

On their way out the door, Charlietook on an impish look. "I can’t resist,"he warned his companions. He leanedslightly out of his way to catch Kathy’sattention as she gossiped with a friendnear the door. "Please see that Mrs.Tarleton’s final paycheck is sent to thehouse," he said brightly to her, loving theemphasis he placed on the two wordsthat would undoubtedly set Kathy’s teethon edge.

Without waiting for a response,Hayely, Gary, and Charlie headed home.

Chapter Seven

When they arrived at the mansion thenight before, Hayely had been exhaustedin the utterly complete way only wroughtemotions can bring.

Her entire life was changing fromweek to week, and her situation had

improved slightly in her estimation. Atleast now she’d gotten rid of the thingshe didn’t want—a job she loathed. Onlynow she was left missing what shewanted, and that wasn’t simply a careercalling anymore. Her pretend marriageto Gary weighed heavily on her. Thenight before, their interaction had felt socomfortable, so vibrantly real that it waseasy sometimes to forget the nature oftheir six-month relationship.

After the banquet, Hayely hadfallen into bed exhausted. If only shecould erase her recollection of himasking her to stay on as an employeeafter the six months were up. He’d beenhonest about his expectations all along.

Was it too late to want more? Shedoubted a little shared time alone wouldtake his original intentions and flip themone-hundred-and-eighty degrees.

Well into mid-morning, Hayelyopened her eyes and knew she was alonein the big house. Gary was alwaysawake with the dawn and gone to workbefore her own internal body clockstirred her. As she sat up, the entireChamber of Commerce Banquet sprungto mind all in one quick memory. Shemoaned and then laughed out loud at thesame time. There was no hiding it now—her secret was out. At least with nojob to speak of, she didn’t have toawaken to the ring of an annoying alarm

clock.

Hayely padded downstairs in apair of slippers that resembled stuffedteddy bears and picked yesterday’s mailup from the table in the foyer. When hadGary added her name to everything?From bills to the newspaper, her namejoined his on the label. Curious, shewalked around the house surveyingrooms. Just as she’d suspected, someonehad hung up still more pictures of thetwo of them together—a large one in theliving room and another in the unfinishedlibrary. The decorative frame stood outawkwardly beside the columns of emptybookshelves.

When the telephone rang, Hayely

nearly jumped out of her slippers andher heart thudded wildly against herthick blue terrycloth robe. In all the timeshe’d spent in the house, never once hadshe heard the phone ring.

"Hello?" she answered cautiously.Was she or wasn’t she entitled to answerthe phone in what the rest of the worldthought was her own home? What wasthe correct protocol?

"Hayely, it’s me." Gary’s voicerolled to her from across the line,caressing her all the way down to hertoes just by speaking her name.

She breathed in to still the fluttersin her chest. "You surprised me, Gary."

She’d almost called him something like"honey" in return and thought the betterof it.

"Should I come home for an earlylunch?"

Hayely held the phone silently toher ear for just a moment. "Yes."

"I’ll be there."

Hayely ran to the kitchen as fast asher teddy bear feet would allow. Whatcould she find? Bacon and tomatosandwiches, French fries and a sidesalad would have to do on such shortnotice. She measured a scoop of lushsmelling grounds into a filter and turned

on the coffeemaker.

Hayely scrambled to find thedrawer in which she’d accidentally putthe tomatoes inside the massiverefrigerator. With bacon sizzling in thefrying pan and sourdough bread in thetoaster oven, she’d have lunch ready inno time. But she’d witnessed Gary’slead foot and knew the office wasn’t toofar down the freeway from home.Quickly, she pulled the French fries outof the deep fryer before they turned onetoo many shades of golden brown.

Just as Gary walked into thekitchen, Hayely plunked down a platefull of food on the table. "Ta da!" sheannounced with a smile and a grand

gesture.

She drew in a breath and lookedup at him. His dark hair was styledneatly and barely a trace of stubblecovered his chin, but the telltale signs ofconstruction dust hung in his hair and onhis shirt. Her heart made an out of synchthud just from the mere sight of him andthe sensation stopped her in her tracks.

Gary approached the table slowlyand without even glancing down at hisfood, growled, "I think I might have tomake it a to-go order. We need to talk."

Hayely blushed furiously as thereason for his visit home came to her.Last night. He remembered that look just

as vividly as she did. She tugged the beltto her robe a little tighter around her andsat down. She was in the middle of thekitchen in broad daylight wearingnothing but a robe and a pair of not-so-attractive slippers.

"I should have gotten dressed, butI was in a hurry."

"So was I."

•

Gary slid his chair closer toHayely until he could see every tinything about her face. With her disheveledhair and eyes still bright from sleep, shelooked more attractive to him than ever.

That she had settled into this home soeasily brought him a joy he hadn’tnoticed before. She just seemed to fit.

"Hayely," he said as he toyed withthe ends of her bathrobe belt and pulledher closer to him. "My pretty Hayely."He bent nearer, the look in his eyestelling her that the kiss he intended togive her would be nothing like theharmless ones he’d given before.

•

Hayely senses spun. She wantedthe kiss. She did. But for the first time,the term "marriage of convenience" rangtrue on an entirely different level to herand that level troubled her. Oh, but she

wanted that kiss.

Hayely put her hand againstGary’s chest. Should she push himaway? Try to go back to the way thingswere before? Just as she had decided,the noise of the front door opening tookthe need for action away from her.

Charlie sauntered into the kitchenwith a newspaper curled under his arm."Nice bear feet," said as he tossed thepaper onto the table. "I tried to call, butyou had your cell phone off. Whatgives?"

Gary growled, "You’d think thatwould be a hint." He poured himself acup of coffee and crossly sat down in

front of his lunch.

"Look at this." Charlie lookedfrom Gary to Hayely, shrugged as ifsome great meaning had been lost onhim, and feigned that he had noticednothing. He opened the newspaper to thesociety section and tapped the picturesthere for emphasis.

Hayely leaned slightly overGary’s shoulder. "Oh my." Her handfluttered to her mouth as she read.

There, on the first page of thesection, were pictures of her dancingwith Gary, standing with Gary as theChamber of Commerce presidentannounced their marriage, and a larger

professional shot of the two of them thatlooked suspiciously like one thephotographer they’d hired must havetaken in the garden.

Gary scanned through theaccompanying article. "They didn’twaste any time, did they? Sure did theirresearch."

"How did they find out myparents’ names?" she asked inbewilderment. "They even have my ageand where I’m from."

"Reporters," Charlie answered. "Itdoesn’t take a lot of effort for them todig up a person’s background. Luckyyou’re not a criminal or they’d be all

over that, too." He winked at Hayelyplayfully.

"We need to talk to your parents,"Gary said matter-of-factly. "I’ve beenlooking forward to meeting my newcontract in-laws anyway. No time likethe present."

Charlie closed the newspaper andhanded it to Hayely. "I imagine you’llwant to keep this." He wondered if fiftyyears down the road, they would look atthat newspaper and treasure it.

Hayely’s throat choked shut. Whatwould her father say? And her poormother? At least the chances of themfinding out about the nature of the

business arrangement were slim. They’djust believe she’d gotten married.Straightforward as that. But the thoughtof facing them so soon—maybe theydidn’t know. Maybe they hadn’t seenanything in the media. Maybe she couldstay happily in her cocoon of denial andput off talking to them just a whilelonger.

Charlie turned to Gary. "The realreason I wanted to reach you on yourcell was that you got a call at the office alittle while ago. Just after you took off insuch a hurry."

Gary stuffed several fries in hismouth and chewed, raising his eyebrowsquestioningly in response. "And?"

"Mr. Bellmark says he and hiswife are coming to town. Tonight,"Charlie stated with emphasis. "I haven’tseen them in so long," he added with awisp of nostalgia in his voice.

"Tonight?" Hayely asked. She’dbarely had time to consider breaking thecontroversial news of their marriage toher parents and now this? She’d have towork fast to get their guest bedroomready. The rest of the place was lookingrespectable enough for visitors. Shewouldn’t have time to cook, though.Maybe they could all go out to arestaurant. Being a pretend wife surecarried with it enough of the

responsibilities of a real marriage.

Gary downed the rest of his coffeeand stood quickly. "I’ll see you tonightafter I pick the Bellmarks up from theairport. We’ll have that discussionlater." He gave Hayely’s hand a squeezeon impulse before striding in long stepsout of the house to his truck.

"How big is your car, Charlie?"Hayely asked, her gaze following Garyout the door.

"I’ve got one of the companytrucks today. Why?"

"Perfect. My car doesn’t havemuch in the way of a trunk, and I’m

going to have to do some major shoppingtoday to get the guest room ready.Actually, it’s the bathroom I’m worriedabout. Feel like a like a trip into thecity?"

Charlie’s eyes twinkled as helooked down toward her feet. "I’ll justpour myself a cup of coffee while youget ready."

"Thanks ," Hayely yelled outbehind her as she ran for the stairs.

In no time at all, Hayely andCharlie were on their way down theroad. She remembered clearly how tofind the boutique and directed Charliethat way. As the weeks went by, she

found that she got lost in the city muchless frequently and had even managed toaccumulate some favorite stores.

"I’ve got to pick up a coupleoutfits I ordered. Want to wait for me?"

"Nah. I’ll come in. I hate to just sitand wait."

Whe n Hayely walked into theshop, Carla recognized her immediatelyand ran to greet her. "I’ve already heardthe buzz. You must have been awesome.Everyone in here’s been talking aboutyou and Gary. They say he never takeshis eyes off of you. Lucky girl."

Hayely smiled shyly. "I don’t think

I’ll ever get used to people around here.I’m not sure why my life is thatfascinating."

"Sure. Nothing out of the ordinaryat all," Carla said sarcastically andmade a lighthearted face. Then shelooked up and grinned brilliantly as shenoticed Charlie, her attention focusingcompletely away from Hayely. "I’mCarla." She stuck out her hand daringlyto grab his.

Charlie turned crimson all the waydown his fingertips. "I’m Charlie." Heshook her hand with a mix ofawkwardness and sincerity thatappeared to catch Carla by surprise.

Hayely looked back and forthbetween the two of them, recognizing aspark when she saw it. "Carla," sheinterrupted, "can I get my order?"

Carla dropped Charlie’s handwith a giggle and walked to a backroom. She emerged with a heavygarment bag in her hand.

"We got in everything, made to fit.We have a couple ensembles that wouldwork for entertaining at home in theevening, that other formal gown youpicked out, and two casual daytimeoutfits. Oh, and in this other bag are theshoes and hat you liked."

"That’s exactly right," Hayely

confirmed. Her insides tightened as shementally tallied the cost of her purchase.Her last month’s paycheck would coversome of it, and she was sure she couldearn the rest later. She couldn’t think ofa way to avoid the expense; she hadnothing appropriate to wear in GaryTarleton’s world. She signed the creditcard slip with her new name, a name shewas quickly becoming used to seeingeverywhere she looked.

Hayely thanked Carla and smiledwhen she saw the salesclerk handCharlie a business card on the way outthe door. Hayely was even more tickledwhen he dug out one of his own andtraded Carla for it.

Charlie shut the truck door afterHayely hopped inside and positionedhimself behind the wheel. "Charlie andCarla. Nice ring to it."

Hayely punched him lightly on theshoulder. "If I’m right, she wrote herhome phone number on the back. Youought to give her a call."

"That, I might." He blushed scarletagain underneath his light smattering offreckles. His bright blue eyes with longcurled lashes were definitely his moststriking feature next to his richly huedhair, Hayely assessed. With his pleasantmouth and well-shaped face, she thoughthe just might have a chance with Carla.

Hayely turned away from Charlieand tucked the receipt into her purse,making a noise of dread as she did. "I’llhave to let Gary know I’ll pay him backfor the clothes." She grimaced. "Ishouldn’t have spent so much."

Charlie laughed oddly. "Veryfunny."

Then he looked at her expressionand wondered if she had a dry sense ofhumor that he hadn’t noticed before. Shecertainly seemed serious, but Charlieshook the feeling aside. He didn’t haveGary’s knack for reading people hedidn’t know well quickly. The idea thatGary would want Hayely to reimbursehim for anything was laughable. If

anything, the man who was his boss andbest friend wished Hayely would acceptmore from him if that silver car wereany indication.

Hayely looked at Charlie as ifhe’d turned green, but decided not to sayanything. She didn’t really know himwell enough to understand what he’dmeant by "very funny." Of course shewas responsible and would repay herdebts. She wouldn’t be in the situationshe was in if those morals weren’tingrained in her nature in the first place.

Hayely spent the next three hoursrunning Charlie ragged—but he seemedto be such a willing victim that she

decided to use it her own advantage.From one store to the next, she addedbag after bag to Charlie’s arms until theyfinally had to return to the truck to toss itall inside.

"I think I’ve about worn out thepoor credit card. Good thing its use willexpire in three months or we’d have toreplace it," Hayely joked.

Charlie frowned and rubbed hisaching, shopping-fatigued arms. Sheapparently didn’t know that Gary hadasked him to request a new card for her,one that wouldn’t expire for at least thestandard two years.

"I’ll have to look into that," he

said in all earnestness. He wondered ifGary was finally coming to his senses.

•

Hayely barely had enough time toget everything done. She’d sent Charlieto set out everything they’d bought in theguest bathroom. From plush towels andbathmats to intricately carved guestsoaps and ritzy shampoos, she’d askedhim to line the marble countertops withthese things and a smattering of flowersas if the room belonged to a five-starhotel.

Charlie was even in charge ofputting the luxurious new bedding on thebed. For good measure she added

houseplants and candles around thebedroom to make it seem homier for theBellmarks. Their visit couldn’t be moreimportant to Gary, she reasoned.

With Charlie occupied, Hayelyimmediately dove into her work in thekitchen. She had wine, soda, bottledwater, juices—whatever she guessed theolder couple might want. She dippedfresh strawberries in chocolate, stuffed acouple dozen big mushrooms, and set outsome cheese and crackers. It certainlywasn’t a spread she’d call her bestwork, but it would have to do on suchshort notice.

Still on the run, Hayely jumped ina steaming hot shower and stood there

letting the water flow over her. Had shefound a chance to relax even a little bitall day? At least she was earning herkeep, she reasoned.

Hayely dried off and walked intothe dressing room between the masterbedroom and bath to make sureeverything looked all right. She’ddecorated the area with only him inmind, and hoped he wouldn’t dislike thefeminine touches she added. No onedisliked fresh floral arrangements, didthey?

Hayely buttoned up one of theshirts she’d picked up from the boutiquejust that day. With sleeves that came

down only to her elbows and a collarthat stood up just a little in back, Carlahad tailored the mint green cottonexactly the way Hayely had envisioned.

She tucked the shirt into her newdress pants made of simple, blackmaterial that came up into ahigh-waisted design. Small slits in theflowing legs of her pants near her anklesmatched those at the ends of her sleeves.Comfortable for home, but not toocasual, she concluded as she turnedaround full circle in the mirror.

She almost ran into Gary as sheleft the dressing room. "I didn’t knowyou were back." Her hand fluttered toher chest as her heart pounded a little

faster with surprise—or something else.

"They’re downstairs withCharlie," Gary breathed out. "I wantedto come up and get you. Their roomlooks great." He sat down on the edge ofthe bed and looked up at Hayely.

"Charlie put in a lot of the labor."

Hayely was sure her insides wentthrough a meltdown as she returned hisgaze. Here was a man with one of themost naturally muscular physiques she’dever seen, and he was looking up at herwith something akin to childlike terror inhis eyes. She sat down beside him andtook his big hand reassuringly in herown.

"The dream that drove me sincechildhood rides on this visit, Hayely. Ihave to make sure those kids get thesame chance I was given."

"You’re a good man, GaryTarleton. I just know that as soon as youtell the Bellmarks about your plans,they’ll let you buy it from them. I’m surethey don’t want to see it closed any morethan you do. It’s been their whole lives’work, hasn’t it?"

Gary smiled, his teeth lookingwhiter than ever under his growingstubble. "That’s what I keep tellingmyself." He twisted to the side andreached into the pocket of his khakitrousers. "I bought these for you. I saw

the hairpins you used and thought—well,here." He handed her a small black box.

Hayely pulled the lid open andlooked back up at Gary. "You don’t needto keep buying me things, Gary. I don’texpect that. I don’t need it."

"I know. And that’s exactly why Ido it." He plucked the intricately strungpearl earrings from their velvet case andlet them dangle from between his fingerand his thumb. "They’ll look good withwhat you have on."

Hayely put on the earrings andtook his hand for him to lead herdownstairs. She couldn’t help but thinkof all the ways he made her feel

treasured. It was ironic that such ablessing could be designed sotemporary.

Seated on the cozy sofa Hayelyhad chosen were their first guests. Shewas relieved that Charlie had thought tobuild a fire in the fireplace. The blazeadded an ambience that nothing artificialcould duplicate.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bellmark," Garysaid, "this is my beautiful bride,Hayely." He almost made the charadesound sincere.

Hayely liked them immediately,though the image she’d had of them wasnothing close to reality. At nearly eighty

years of age, Mrs. Bellmark wore herlong white hair up in a ponytail and herclothes in a youthful fashion. Decked outjeans, a scarlet red sweatshirt, andtrendy tennis shoes, she didn’t seem tohave lost much of her vitality over theyears. Hayely suddenly felt close tooverdressed for the evening.

Mr. Bellmark surprised her almostas much. He wore tan cowboy boots,jeans, and a black polo shirt. He wasshorter and thinner than he appeared inthe picture Gary had placed on the wallof his den—and much less stuffy.

"Very nice to meet you both,"Hayely greeted.

She tilted her head toward thekitchen so that Charlie would take thehint and run to get the trays of fingerfoods she’d thrown together. Alreadyshe saw they had full cups of hot tea onthe coffee table in front of them. Shecouldn’t imagine Gary having made tea—Charlie must have come to the rescueagain.

Mrs. Bellmark rose to her feet andcaught up both of Hayely’s hands in hers."Well, you sweet thing. I can see whyGary chose you. But for the life of me—"

"I can’t see what you saw in him,"M r . Bellmark finished his wife’ssentence with a hearty laugh. "Relax,

Gary. It was a joke," he said beforeturning back to Hayely. "He always wastoo serious—even as a boy."

Charlie returned and plunked thehors d’oeuvres trays down on the coffeetable. "I’ll bet you’re starved after sucha long trip?" He sank into a plush gold-toned chair as the couple sat back downon the sofa, and Gary and Hayely founda place on the loveseat nearby.

"Actually," Mrs. Bellmark said,"we ate on the plane coming in. No needto worry about dinner just because ofus."

"And no need to get down tobusiness right off the bat, either," Mr.

Bellmark added. "We’ve got a coupledays before we need to think about anyof that."

Hayely nodded, "I agree. Do youhave any plans for tomorrow? Or can weshow you the sights? We have anamazing exercise room and swimmingpool right here in the house. I haven’tspent much time there, but there arestables out back, too. We could gohorseback riding?" she offeredenthusiastically.

Gary squeezed Hayely’s handtighter and didn’t even seem to noticethat he was toying with her weddingring. "Is there anything you wanted to seein town? Somewhere we could take

you?"

"No, dear," Mrs. Bellmark said. "Ithink we’d just enjoy sleeping in late,walking through that enormous garden Isaw, and getting reacquainted. Thehorses sound nice. A little shoppingcouldn’t hurt either." She gave Hayely aconspiratorial wink.

"I’d like a tour of your company,"Mr. Bellmark added.

So would I, Hayely thought. Whyhadn’t she asked Gary to show heraround his office before? She wouldhave looked much more prepared thatway, and it seemed as if she would needall her wits about her to help Gary

through the next few days. He had grownso tense beside her that she could almostfeel his nervous anxiety soaking throughher skin.

Charlie stood up slowly andstretched the kinks out of his back. "Ihate to leave so soon, but I have to getup early for work tomorrow so that I canleave early."

Gary raised an eyebrow at hisfriend.

Charlie grinned. "I’ve got a date."

Hayely stood and clapped herhands together. "She said yes? Way togo, Charlie!"

Gary looked confused. "When didall this happen?"

Hayely rested her hand on Gary’sarm. "Don’t worry. I’ll catch you up oneverything."

Mr. Bellmark rose to his feet andhelped his wife stand. "Better watch it,"he said to Gary. "If you’re lucky, she’llbe running circles around your life in notime."

Gary gazed with admiration atHayely. "I hope so."

Hayely knew she looked startledand composed herself quickly.Sometimes he was too good of an actor

and she couldn’t tell where make-believe ended and reality began.

As Gary finished up somebusiness with Charlie out in thedriveway, Hayely escorted their tiredguests upstairs and shut the bedroomdoor softly behind them for the night.She walked back to the room she wouldhave to share with Gary and unbuttonedher shirt carefully. Too bad she’dwasted one outfit for an hour’s visit, shemused and arranged the mint greenfabric carefully on its hanger.

•

Gary groaned when he walked intohis bedroom and saw Hayely standing

with her heavy bathrobe wrapped all theway around her up to the neck. He hadn’tconsidered their sleeping arrangementswith the Bellmarks in the house. He’dbeen too busy feeling so proud to haveher on his arm in front of his guests.She’d been nothing short of lovingtoward the older couple. He couldn’twait to buy the boys’ home, and now hewas even curious to meet her possiblyfurious parents.

Hayely crossed her arms over herchest. "You should knock," shewhispered adamantly.

"On my own bedroom door?" hewhispered back huskily. His gaze shiftedfrom Hayely to the bed and back again.

When he didn’t take a step towardher, she asked, "You’re goingsomewhere, aren’t you?"

"Do you want me to stay?" Garytilted his head to the side and ran hishand along his scruffy chin.

"I—" she stammered.

"Don’t worry. But this is going tomake me look like a terrible husband infront of the Bellmarks. I’ve got to headback into the office for a few hours.Since I’m taking the next couple days offto be with our guests, I’ve got to takecare of some things tonight. You and Istill need to talk."

"When will you be home?"

He didn’t know if she feltdisappointment or relief in therealization that she’d probably be asleeplong before he returned from the office.

"Late. Much later than I’d like.You shouldn’t wait for me. I’m sorry.Time will be on our side soon enough."

•

As Gary left the room, Hayelysank down into the heavy feather-filledcomforter alone on the big bed. Time ontheir side? Did he think she’d agree tokeep up the charade longer now that shewas unemployed? No - from the way she

saw their situation, time was definitelyagainst them. With only a couple monthsof security stretching ahead of her, asense of dread was creeping over her alittle more each day. In a matter ofweeks, she’d have to leave Gary and thistemporary home. If he felt the samestirrings she was feeling for him, hewould have made it clear. And hehadn’t.

Hayely was utterly and completelymiserable by the time she drifted off intosleep.

•

As soon as they were firmlyseated in their saddles, Mr. and Mrs.

Bellmark grabbed the reins and took offatop their horses at a gallop. Thepowerful animals were Quarterhorses,and much too high strung for an elderlycouple to be riding in Gary’s opinion.Mrs. Bellmark’s white ponytail whippedout behind her, bouncing along as herhusband laughed at the sight and tried tocatch up to her.

"Doesn’t look like they’re going toneed any lessons," Hayely said. "Thinkwe’ll ever see them again? They’ll be inCalifornia by tonight at that rate."

He smiled. "We’re going to haveto get more than two good ridinghorses," Gary observed. "Might eventrade those two in. Never seemed like a

priority until now."

"There’s one more horse in thestables. At least I think I saw a big blackone in one of the stalls this morning."

"The Friesian? I suppose we couldride him together if you felt like it."

"Why don’t we just wait for theBellmarks?"

"Coward," Gary whispered. "Youknow, these horses were bred as warhorses, big enough to carry both a knightand his armor into battle after travelingfor weeks."

"But if he’s too big for most

people to ride easily, why did you wanthim?

"He fits me just fine in case youhaven’t noticed. Besides, once I seesomething I like, I generally don’t let itgo."

The Bellmarks circled back andstopped in front of Gary and Hayely. Mr.Bellmark called out, "Do you two want aturn? I think we’re hogging the horses."His cheeks were stained a happy redfrom the brisk ride in the cool spring air.

Gary wrapped his arms aroundHayely and squeezed her shockinglyclose against his body. "No, you twotake all the time you want. Have fun.

There’s a trail that runs up the hills offthe back of the property. See the gatethere?"

"You’re sure it’s alright?" Mrs.Bellmark asked with just a hint ofbreathlessness in her voice.

"Come on, Hilda," Mr. Bellmarksaid with a chuckle, "Can’t you seethey’d rather be doing exactly whatthey’re doing right now?"

"Ah, honeymooners," she sighed."Remember those days, dear?"

"We’ll just be inside fixing lunch,"Hayely quickly clarified as she squirmedaway from his embrace. "The man at the

stables will take care of the horses,won’t he Gary?"

Gary nodded. "Just drop them offand come inside when you’re ready."

With a hearty laugh ofunderstanding, the older couple turnedtheir horses at a more leisurely pace thanbefore in the direction Gary had pointed.

Hayely’s nearness to him affectedhim more than he’d like to admit, and hehadn’t missed her kindness toward theBellmarks. He checked himself mentally.She was just doing her job. He held herhand anyway as they walked into thehouse together.

•

Hayely had almost finishedcooking lunch by the time the Bellmarkswalked inside after their horsebackadventure. She would have had the mealprepared several minutes sooner if ithadn’t been for Gary’s meddling. Everytime she turned around, she had to slaphis hand away some ingredient on thecounter. His energy was impossible torepress whenever he seemed happy ordetermined.

She smiled up at him. Without hisusual stern manner and scowl ofseriousness, he looked like the strikinglyhandsome, energetic thirty-somethingman he truly was. When Mr. Bellmark

finally came to the table after showeringaway a great deal of horse hair, Garyfinally left Hayely’s side and sat next tohim. Hayely sighed and set the tablearound them.

M r s . Bellmark came into thedining room with a book in her hands, itspages yellowing with age and heldtogether by a large rubber band.Carefully, she removed the band and setthe book down on the wide table in frontof Hayely.

"I thought you two might like tolook at pictures while we eat," sheexplained. "We kept regular pictures ofGary and Charlie for about seven years.

Couldn’t keep up with those twomonkeys after that."

Hayely placed several hot dishesfull of food onto potholders to avoidsingeing the expensive and well-polished table she’d recently purchasedfor the dining room. In spite of the lesseraccommodations, she realized that Garyand Charlie always seemed to wind upsitting with her at the tiny kitchen table.It was nice to have an excuse to use thebig dining room table for once. Shelooked over Mrs. Bellmark’s shoulderand recognized a picture on the firstpage.

"We have that one hanging up inthe den," Hayely pointed out.

"That’s the first one we ever tookof Gary. It was right after he came tolive with us."

M r . Bellmark added, "He andCharlie were like two peas in a pod.Inseparable."

"Right through college," Mrs.Bellmark said. "They went to the sameschool only a year or so apart. Moved tothe same town after that."

"He became my brother," Garysaid. "I was lucky in the sense that I gotto choose my family. Living with the twoof you in the boys’ home gave mechances at life that most kids in my

position only dreamed of."

Mr. Bellmark put his gnarled handon the younger man’s shoulder. "I knowyou want to pass that gift along, Gary. Iadmire you for that."

"No business talk at the table,"Mrs. Bellmark chastised.

Gary grimaced. "I remember thattone well."

For a while they ate and stayedsafely in the realm of small talk untilMrs. Bellmark turned the page of thephoto album again. "See this grouppicture? We took this right after weopened our doors. What year was that

anyway? I can’t recall now. So many ofthem were just babies when they came tous."

Hayely saw loneliness and openfright in the eyes of the tiniest children,and a front of bravery in the picture of aten-year-old Gary. He was one of theoldest there.

"I can’t imagine growing upwithout my parents. They weren’talways easy to live with but still—"

"Well, as soon as you and Garyhave children, they’ll have the best ofl ives. All the advantages. Have youthought about babies yet?" Mrs.Bellmark stopped talking and looked

expectantly at Hayely for an answer.

Hayely looked fleetingly at Gary.He had stopped eating with his fork fullof food suspended in mid-air as if hernext words would chart the future of theuniverse. What would he have wantedher to say? They hadn’t discussed thesubject, so Hayely blurted out what wasin her heart.

"I want children. I do. If I couldplan out my life perfectly, I’d pick acareer I could control, so that I can workout of the house and raise my babies. Nodaycare nightmares. No nannies withvalues that might not be like ours. Doyou know what I mean?"

Where in the world had thatanswer come from? If she had lookedup, she would have seen Gary beamingwith an arrogantly pleased smile thatthreatened to split his handsome face.

Mr s . Bellmark nodded in deepagreement. "Gary, my boy, you have awise young wife. Hayely, you’re right.There’s no more joy in the entire worldthan a good marriage and a bunch of fathealthy babies to call your own." Shewinked at her husband and tossed herwhite ponytail back over her shoulder.

"Did you ever have children?Other than the boys in the boys’ home Imean?" Hayely asked with more interestthan she now felt.

Mr. Bellmark nodded. "We startedvery young. Had two daughters almostfully grown by the time we opened thehome."

Gary still hadn’t stopped smilingas he silently lifted his fork to his mouthagain. He shook his head and lookedpleased if not bewildered.

M r . Bellmark dabbed his chinwith a napkin and set it down on thetable. "Well, Hilda. About ready to takeoff?"

Hayely looked at Mr. Bellmarkwith an expression of dull surprise."You’re going somewhere?"

"We’ll have a hot time on the oldtown tonight," the elderly couple bothsang out in unison as if they’d practicedthe line a hundred times before. Hayelylooked with envy at their joy after somany decades together. That’s what Iwant, she thought suddenly. That andnothing less.

An ache had begun in the center ofher and she felt as if something vast hadgone missing there. But that wasridiculous. If anything, she was closer towhere she wanted to be than before,wasn’t she? Maybe she would miss whatGary and his home had come tosymbolize for her. He represented all thepossibilities of all the things she wanted.

It would be natural to miss that influencewhen it was gone.

Mrs. Bellmark tucked the albumunder her arm and they all walked to thefront door together. "It’s really beenwonderful visiting with you," she saidwarmly. "See you early tomorrow then?"

Hayely nodded and respondedwith a smile that didn’t reach her eyes,"Yes, tomorrow at the office."

Mr. Bellmark shook Gary’s handand gave Hayely a quick hug. "Take careof him," he instructed and turned toGary. "And you take care of her. She’sone of a kind."

M r . Bellmark’s kindness wasnearly Hayely’s undoing. "Excuse me,but I just remembered something I haveto check," she said and turned to leavebefore the Bellmarks could see the tearsthat threatened. "See you tomorrowmorning," she called out.

Hayely walked quickly from thefoyer and headed for Gary’s den, theonly room she could think of far enoughaway and insulated enough to hide thesound of her sobs from the departingguests. Suddenly and so unexpectedly, awave of dark emotion nearly drownedh e r . Babies? She couldn’t think ofstarting a family, couldn’t consider thelaughter of small children in the big

house, especially couldn’t let herselfimagine a child with Gary’s perfectcheekbones and her silver eyes. Shewasn’t acting any better than a schoolgirlwriting her boyfriend’s name after hersin her diary.

She was full of ridiculousthoughts. She and Gary weren’t evenromantically involved. A family life likethat might never be hers. She suddenlythought of her arrangement with Garyand regretted it bitterly as the tearsstarted to flow in earnest. No love, noreal job, no real life, she thought. It wasas if everything she’d ever wanted wasalways an inch away from her fingertipsand she could never cross that tiny

distance to grasp it.

•

Following discretely behind aftera few minutes, Gary stepped into his denand reached back to lock the doorbehind him without taking his eyes offHayely. He’d sent the Bellmarks on theirway out to spend the evening at one ofthose luxury hotels they’d seen in abrochure, but not before Gary knewthey’d sensed Hayely’s distress.

"What’s going on? I can’t begin tounderstand what’s happening inside thathead of yours. You haven’t acted thesame for a couple days now. Not sincethe Banquet for sure."

Hayely’s eyes glowed like hotmercury. "Why do you even care, Gary?Really. This is all just a big game to youanyway."

He studied her distraught face fora moment. "What in the world are youtalking about?"

"This arrangement. This fake,hateful, horrible marriage. I thought Iwas strong. I thought I could agree toyour terms. But I’m not doing very wellat being professional. My feelings get inthe way and it’s terrible."

Gary’s eyes swam with confusion."You hate me. You regret marrying me,"he stated flatly.

Of course she did, he thought.How could he have expected her tocompletely brush aside the way he’dforced her to marry him in the firstplace? He’d planned on talking to herever since that look passed betweenthem at the Banquet. He’d thought he’dsensed the spark of something real. Butmostly it seemed he’d been a fool tothink he could overcome such a bad startin so little time.

"No, you big burly—architect,"she spat when no insult would comequickly enough to mind. "What I regret,"she said miserably, "is that I’m just asix-month convenience you’re getting tooused to, that’s all."

"Just a convenience?" At least shedidn’t say she hated him. There was achance still. Gary wanted to tell her thatthe agreement they’d signed wasmeaning less to him by the day and shewas meaning more. How much more, hedidn’t know. But he wanted to find out.

And Hayely wanted to ask him ifhe had any idea how painful it ispretending for the entire world that shehad something she didn’t.

Instead they stood silently lookingat one another.

"You just don’t understand," shesaid.

Gary gathered Hayely into hisarms. He was at a loss where suchemotion was concerned, when a womancried as if her heart were snapping inhalf. The time had come. He had to makesure she understood how he felt abouther, make it clear how unbelievablystunning she had grown in his eyes.

"Hayely, I have to tell yousomething."

"I know. I’m terriblyunprofessional. I’ve heard it before."She sniffled against his sleeve and thenstraightened. "What?"

"I do understand. I want you tostay past the six months."

Her silver eyes glimmered. "I’veheard that song before, too."

"Ah hell." Gary pulled her closeup against his broad chest. "Just stay."

Hayely wiped the remaining tearsaway, her eyes still bright. "You likeme."

A touch of crimson stained hischeeks and he nodded.

"How much?" she asked.

With his hand resting gently on hercheek, he lowered his lips to hers. Hecaressed her softly at first and shegasped as his kiss invited her to open

her heart to him.

Hayely was energized beyondreason. Never, never in her controlledlife had a man’s kiss sent her reeling intooblivion. She couldn’t even pull acoherent protest together.

She stood up on her toes to reachhim and twined her hands into his hair.The thought that she was kissing GaryTarleton, her boss, crossed her mind butshe didn’t think to move away. Shedidn’t think at all with his lips pressedagainst hers.

•

Gary had been kissed by women,

many women whose touches stoppedhim cold almost instantly. He’d sensedthe greed, the ulterior motives in them.But all he felt in Hayely’s kiss wasunbridled yearning. What he wouldn’tgive to do more. But there were limits,and this was all too new. Reluctantly, heended the kiss.

"Why, Mrs. Tarleton, I had noidea." He put his hands around her waistand held her at arms’ length before shepulled loose and walked backward outof the room. Smiling.

Chapter Eight

If Charlie thought Gary and Hayely hadfeelings for one another the day thephotographer had come to the garden, itpaled in comparison to what he sawwhen he went into work.

By the time Charlie walked in,

Hayely had already dropped off a platefull of peanut butter cookies andbrownies in the break room and taken anexpedited tour of their corporateheadquarters. She jumped shyly from herseat on the corner of Gary’s desk whenCharlie opened the door.

"Hi," she said. "We got here earlytoday."

Hayely mentally gave herself aswift kick for stating the obvious out ofembarrassment. Could anyone sense thechange between them? She glancedquickly at Gary, scanning for some hintfrom him and couldn’t see anythingspecific that would give them away. Shewasn’t sure what she was worried

about. After all, it had only been a kiss.

Charlie looked at Gary, thinkingthat his friend had traveled back tenyears into his youth overnight. "So Isee."

"Wel l ," Hayely pressed, "howwas the big date with Carla?" She wascaught between her own personal elationand wanting to hear his news.

Charlie smiled brightly, his eyesfairly glowing. "She’s really great. Wehad the best time together. So," he saiddeliberately changing the subject, "whatdo you think of our humble workplace?"

"It’s huge. I’d imagined you and

Gary sitting on cardboard boxes withplywood for desks. I thought I’d seenails all over the floors, hardhats on thewalls and a telephone covered withgreasy fingerprints. Nothing like this."

Charlie smiled. He still suspectedt ha t Hayely didn’t fully comprehendexactly who Gary was or the extent ofhis empire. How could she? She hadn’tbeen exposed fully to Gary’s world yet.Truth was, they had existed much theway she described when Gary firststarted the business a decade before. Butas revenue crept up high into themillions and was now nearly past that,the headquarters had graduallytransformed out of necessity into a

shining, modern office building.

Gary rested his hand on Hayely’sknee as if it belonged there permanently."We take up the biggest skyscraper intown now. It’s amazing. And you shouldsee our other offices. I designed most ofthem myself and even helped build acouple of them with my own two hands.That’s the best. And that’s why Charliehere is so amazing. While I’m outplaying in the dirt, he keeps thingsrunning right here. That’s a luxury fewcompany owners can afford these days."

Hayely couldn’t imagine she hadever truly thought Charlie was just apersonal assistant, because she wasgrowing some suspicions after having

looked at his big office. "What’s yourtitle exactly?"

He ran a hand over his waywardred hair. "I guess it’s COO, if you wantto get technical."

Hayely laughed. "Typical. I shouldknow by now how you two downplayeverything."

The intercom on Gary’s deskbuzzed an abrupt interruption. "I’ll beright out," he answered into the phoneand then announced, "The Bellmarks arein the reception area."

Together the three of them strolleddown the carpeted halls to greet the

couple, dressed impeccably for theoccasion. Gone were Mrs. Bellmark’sjeans and sweatshirt and in their placewas a navy blue suit of obvious quality.Even Mr. Bellmark wore a suit and tiecomplete with polished black shoesinstead of his brown cowboy boots.

"The only time we get to wearthese monkey suits is when we visit anoffice or go to church," they informedHayely. "And today’s the day forbusiness talk."

With Gary’s fingers entwined inhers, Hayely took the lead on her secondtour of the day. "Can you believe this?"She stopped and opened a door to thebreak room. "Gary even has a place

where his employees can take naps atlunch." The room next to the one thatheld all the coffee and doughnutsboasted a row of cots with heavycurtains that could be pulled around forprivacy.

Charlie cleared his throat. "I thinkthe benefits are more important than thateven. Full medical, dental, vision, threeweeks of vacation per year. Oh, andafter every five years of service, Garysends employees on a paid, three-monthsabbatical."

"Generous, my boy," Mr. Bellmarkacknowledged with a nod. "I’ve taughtyou well." He gave a merry wink up at

the much larger man.

Hayely felt Gary tense slightly.She may have been mentally reliving theprevious evening, but Mr. Bellmark’sanswer about the boy’s home, she wascertain, was the only thing on Gary’smind at the moment.

Hayely couldn’t resist, "He’s setup an intern program with scholarshipsfor local kids, too. Ten students get a fullride each year if they’re lucky." Gary’sgrip on her fingers was nearly painfuland she squeezed back to let him knowit.

"They’re bragging," Gary saidquietly.

"It’s good that those around youshow such love and loyalty. Even thereceptionist sang your praises when wetold her who we were. That tells memuch about the man you’ve become,"Mr . Bellmark said as he patted Garyhard on the back. "I think we both knowthat Hilda and I aren’t here at your officeto tour the break room pastry selection,though. Think we could go to your officeand shut the door behind us for a littlewhile?"

In silence, the five of them madetheir way down the hall back to Gary’sbig corner office with its enormous glassview of the city stretched out far below.They gathered around a small, oval table

and pulled their chairs up tightly againstit. No one said a word until a youngwoman with a red suit and pleasantsmile set a pitcher of water with severalclear glasses on the table and closed thedoor with a click behind her. All atonce, everyone around the table exhaledand sat up taller.

"I don’t know how to say this, soI’ll just get straight to the point, my boy.I’m not going to sell you the children’shome." Mr. Bellmark drew in a raggedbreath and poured himself a shaky glassof water.

Hayely watched Gary’s face as thewords slowly registered their grimmeaning. Though he didn’t move a

muscle, it seemed to her that some sparkof life drained from his expression.More even than her own hurt, she hatedto sense his. Arrogance and unsociablebehavior she could handle—but notGary’s pain, never that. He didn’tdeserve it.

"But why?" she asked firmly whenno one else spoke.

Gary simply sat at the table andwatched the Bellmarks with a piercingstare, awaiting the answer to his wife’squestion.

M r . Bellmark met Gary’s eyessquarely. "Because you made a promiseto me as a boy that only your pride

forced you to keep all these years. Wehonestly hoped you’d forget it one day,but you never did. So, I release you fromthat promise, son. It’s one I don’t wishfor you to keep."

Gary’s straight nose flaredslightly. "But I wish to keep it. It’s thething that drove me all these years."

"Listen to me. And really hear methis time. It’s too great a burden, and onethat you should have never placed onyour shoulders. Think for a moment whyyou wish to keep it. Think and tell me."

Gary sat silent for a minute andanswered, "First because I made a vow—"

"—and I’ve released you from it,so that can no longer be a factor. Nextreason."

"Second, I want to pass on whatyou taught me. I want to give those kidsthe chances I had or even greaterchances. It’s a matter of honor." He wasrelying strictly on his business-brednegotiation skills. His emotions weretoo twisted around Mr. Bellmark’sanswer to do otherwise reasonably.

Mr. Bellmark smiled sadly. "Butdon’t you see? You’re already doing justthat. You don’t need to buy our oldchildren’s home. You’ve set upscholarships. And whatever nonsense Itaught you, I’m sure you’ll teach to your

children in turn. Nothing you were givenwill be lost. You honor us just by doingwhat you are now—by being GaryTarleton."

Charlie found his voice. "If thiswas your intent all along—I mean, if younever wanted to let Gary buy our oldhome from you, then why did you inferit? Why did you let us think that youwould?"

"I don’t understand, Charles." Theold man took a long sip of water to clearhis dry throat. "I did no such thing."

"You did. You said Gary couldbuy it if he were in the position to. If hemade a stable home life for himself and

was a family man. You hinted at thosethings broadly. Hell, it was more thanhinting."

Mrs. Bellmark nodded in suddenunderstanding. "No swearing, Charles,"she warned. "I know what you meannow. Though I’ll admit, I didn’t at first.You all misunderstand. Yes, we wanteddesperately for Gary to marry. We didn’twant to see him grow old with only hiswork as a companion. We wantednothing less than the greatest love forhim and for a stable marriage full oflaughter and children. By the way, it’sno less than we want for you, Charles."

"Well of course we said Garyneeded those things," Mr. Bellmark

added, "and it may have been in adiscussion just before the topic shiftedback to where Gary usually shifted it.But those words had nothing whatsoeverto do with the home. They hadeverything to do with his happiness. Allwe ever wanted was for him to be ahappy, honorable person."

Mr s . Bellmark said to Hayely,"Now really, can you imagine beinghappy separated half the time with Garytraveling to Maine every week tooversee one thing or another there." Sheturned her gaze back to Gary. "Youwould be divided between two thingsand would end up doing neither verywell, I’m afraid. You would always

have one eye on your past and neverboth on all the possibilities ahead ofyou."

Gary’s head spun as he thoughtback years in the past to recall theconversations he’d had about the home.Had he been so intent on the boys’ homeand the promise of a ten-year-old boythat he hadn’t really heard the lessonthey were trying to teach him even then?

"But you said you’d rather see itburned to the ground than see the statetake it over," Gary said quietly. "Orsomething to that effect."

"That was a long, long time ago,Gary. Options were fewer back then.

With your help, I’m hoping to dosomething a little different."

"You want me to light the match?"he said dismally.

Mr. Bellmark set down his waterglass. "I’m not certain, but I think I wantto set up a nonprofit organization, butI’m not even sure how. That nice coupleyou mentioned before and some experts Iplan to steal from some state-runprograms can operate it locally. Ofcourse, you and I will have veto powerover any decisions they botch. We justwon’t be involved day-to-day. What doyou think?"

Gary wanted to grab something

hard and crumble it in his fist. He’dlived under the weight of that promisefor so many years that he wasn’t surehow to live otherwise. He’d tailored hisentire existence around the day—thisday—when he would sit with Mr.Bellmark and take up the torch. Helooked numbly at Hayely, not sure whatto do for the first time in his life. Thismust be how Hayely felt all those timesshe talked about finding a career, hethought.

"I’ve wasted everything," Garysaid. "My entire life wasted chasingsomething that didn’t exist."

M r s . Bellmark looked at himsternly. "No. You were chasing

something before the idea to buy thehome ever entered your mind. If itweren’t that, it would have beensomething else you’d have fought for."

Hayely looked from face to faceand set her hand delicately over Gary’son top of the table. She knew reasonwhen she heard it and she understoodhow sometimes wishes were refused outof kindness.

"I think they’re making sense. Youneed to let the ten-year-old orphan andhis promise go," Hayely said in a nearwhisper.

"Really?" His hazel eyes lookedintently into her glassy ones. "Really?"

he repeated.

She nodded. "I really don’t thinkyour plan has changed much when youthink about it. You can still repair thatchurch down the road. You can still setup more scholarships for the boys there."

"That’s true," Gary agreed.

"And , " Hayely continued, "thecouple you wanted to run it will berunning it after all. The Bellmarks havejust made sure you’ll be at home startinga family someday—your own brand newchildren’s home here in Nevada, so tospeak."

Gary let out a huge breath that

shook his big shoulders. After holding sotightly for so many years to what seemedto be the most important business deal ofhis life, he felt strangely calm that ithadn’t come to pass. For once, therewere no fears of instability, nomisplaced vows to drive him. All heneeded to do was run his company and—what exactly did he need to do withHayely?

"Wow," he said with a laugh."How did I get all this? I haveeverything I wanted after all. And Ididn’t even see it coming." Then afearful thought came to him. If he hadn’tbeen so driven, so stubborn—if onesingle event had been altered in his life

along the way, he might never havefound Hayely Black signing a paper thatmade her Hayely Tarleton. He wouldhave never even known her. Thatconcept suddenly chilled him more thanthe change in plans for the children’shome.

Mrs. Bellmark let out a sigh ofrelief. "We were so worried about howyou might take our news. We hoped youwould understand."

All at once, everyone rose fromthe table and went from one person tothe next with hugs and kisses. There wasmore laughter than Hayely had heard inyears, and again she noticed a lightcreeping back into Gary’s face.

With words of regret, theBellmarks had to leave for the airport atlast. They couldn’t stay later; the flight toMaine was a long one and a taxi alreadyawaited them in the parking lot below.All too quickly, the lively gatheringnarrowed down to only two as Charliealso left to pick up Carla for a lunchdate. When Gary and Hayely at last satalone and exhausted in his office, theysimply looked outside at the view.

Hayely stretched out on Gary’sleather executive sofa while he leanedback in his chair and kicked his feet uponto his desk.

"Are you alright?"

"I am," he answered. "You know,I’m not going to work weekendsanymore. I’ve worked them my wholelife. I’m just not going to do thatanymore." He put his hands behind hisneck and watched an airplane with itshundreds of passengers sail bynoiselessly in the distant blue sky.

"A lighter workload would begood," she said as softly as possible."You’d have more time for a personallife."

"What do you want to do duringthe day after all the interior design isdone? It almost is, you know. I could setup something for you here?"

Lord above, was she still anemployee first and foremost to him? Shefrowned and would have thrown apillow at his head if she’d had more thanone with her on the sofa.

"I want to do something formyself, thank you very much. I just don’tknow what it is yet," she said at length.

Gary’s eyes followed the trail ofthe plane. "If you could fly awayanywhere right now, where would itbe?"

"Way to change the subject. Don’tyou think dinner and a movie would be abetter place to start getting to know eachother better?"

"We’ve already done dinner.Several times." His voice grew low andgentle as he looked at her.

Hayely spun around on her bottomon the slick sofa and sat up straight.Frustrating, that’s what he was. "Okay.I’ll play. I’ve always wanted to seePompeii."

"You want to see a bunch of deadpeople covered in ash?"

"Not the most romantic?"

"Nope." He shook his head. "Howabout a safari in Africa? We could sleepin tents under the stars."

We? She pondered the idea. "I’mnot big on sunburns or being lion bait.You’ll have to do better than that."

He laughed in defeat. "It’s settledthen. For our fantasy trip, Italy it is, allthe way to Pompeii. For now, want tocome down with me to one of the sites?I’ll introduce you to the crew."

"You know, I think I’d rather justgo back to the house. I’m a little tired ofmake-believe and fantasy."

"You want something real?" Heleaned in close, so close she could feelthe heat of his body warming her.

"Real?" She pressed her hands

against his chest. "Try having to figureout how to tell my parents that I wentand got married months ago and couldn’tseem to find the time to tell them.Doesn’t get much more real than that."

"You know that’s not what Imeant," he said.

She lowered her eyes. "Whatexactly did you mean, Gary?"

He leaned away from her when theanswer wouldn’t come. He ran his handacross his chin. The right words justwouldn’t come when he needed them.

"Do you want me to talk to them?"he finally offered.

Hayely sighed when hesidestepped the loaded question.

"Maybe I should just tell them I’mmarried but it’s only a business deal,that I sold myself to pay for a watch."

Gary grimaced visibly. "Look, I—"

She put her hand up as if to stophis words. "Or maybe you could justkiss me," she whispered.

As he pulled her into his arms, allHayely could think was that theBellmarks were gone and there wasreally no more need for the charade. Andsoon all the painting would be finished.

The fairy tale was ending just as soon asit started, and she was half scared andhalf filled with hope to think wherereality might lead.

Chapter Nine

A day or two passed while Hayelysummoned the courage to call her family.She felt slightly sick to her stomach thatmorning and it didn’t help that when shedialed her parents’ phone number offand on all morning, she connected withnothing but an annoying answering

machine on the other end.

A gnawing anxiety twirled aroundinside her. All but once in her life, herfather’s decisions had somehow woundup being hers. Then she’d taken a standagainst him and it had nearly severedtheir relationship entirely. Her decisionhad taken her across the country toNevada and now into … this.

"Time to stand on your own twofeet and be an adult, Hayely," shewhispered to herself. "And live withyour own decisions." She stared at thetelephone and hoped it would ring inspite of the tense conversation she knewwould follow.

Her interior design duties for themansion were finished for the most part,and she’d be moving out soon. She’dhoped Gary might say something—anything. But the fact was, she’dscarcely seen him alone since theBellmarks left. He seemed distant anddeep in thought, yet he still hadn’texplained what he’d meant by"something real."

Dressed in sweatpants and acolor-splattered shirt, Hayely finishedpainting the last unfinished room thatmorning. The place was definitelyopposite what it had been only a fewmonths before. The light from the stainedglass windows fell on ferns and plants

with dark green leaves. Candles,chandeliers, and firelight bathed theliving room whenever possible, and therichly colored walls and decadentfabrics had turned the cold marble andstone into a haven of comfort.

Hayely dropped her brush backinto the near-empty paint bucket whenshe heard Gary coming down the hall tofind her. She’d seen a lightness comeover him since his meeting with theBellmarks. She still had to nudge him toget him to speak nicely to anyone hedidn’t know well, but she had to admitthat she’d even grown to enjoy hisstandoffish qualities. Now she knew it;when she moved out, his loss would cut.

His lush voice rolled toward herbefore she saw him. "Hayely, thestrangest thing happened this morning."He walked around the corner and leanedin the doorway with his loose jeansshifting in just the right places. "I tried tocall the lawyer’s office and get our fileback from them today."

"Why?"

"I thought we could shred all thecopies of that ridiculous contract into athousand pieces together."

"I would love that. So what wasstrange?" She pushed a strand of hairback. How she’d gotten paint the colorof tomato soup in it, she could only

imagine.

"Their office was broken into lastweek. The only thing stolen was ourfile."

Hayely set the paint bucket downon the floor and her hand fluttered up torest over her heart. "Are you sure it isn’tjust missing? Misfiled?"

Gary crossed his denim-coveredarms over his chest, looking sterner thatever. "Gone. Stolen." He paused for amoment. "Can you think of anyone whowould have known I used that particularlawyer to draw up our agreement?"

Hayely sank down into a nearby

chair and didn’t even seem to notice asthe white drop cloth slid off and bunchedaround her. I’m going to fire some idiottoday. I just don’t know who yet. Maybeit’ll be someone who receives personaldeliveries on company time.

"Oh no," she whispered and thenlooked up at Gary’s piercing hazel eyes."The courier. You had the package sentto me at the office and it had a labelfrom your lawyer’s office on it."

"Who saw that package?"

Hayely’s grey eyes hardened."Kathy."

Gary’s jaw clenched and

unclenched. "I’m tired of dealing withthat witch. She’s gone past unethical andflown on her broomstick straight intoillegal. I ought to turn her in to thepolice."

"How could you prove it? Youknow she probably didn’t break into theoffice herself anyway. She probablyplanted the seed in what’s his name—Darryl’s head and had him do it after anall-night bender anyway."

Gary struck his hand in angeragainst the doorframe. "She can’t use it.If she tries, I’ll have her bony behindtossed behind bars so fast—"

The melodious chimes of the

doorbell sang through the house andinterrupted Gary’s sentence. "Don’t tellme Charlie forgot his keys again," hemuttered with eyes still furious andfilled with a livid glint.

He turned and stomped toward theentryway with Hayely following on hisheels.

Gary turned the bolt on the doorand as he did, yelled out, "You don’thave to keeping ringing the thing. Weheard you." With a final twist, he flungopen the door as wide as it would go.

Hayely jumped back as Garymoved almost casually away from theimpact of the heavy door. With his arm

stretched high against the side of thewood, he said to her, "I think it’s foryou."

All at once a tight red fistappeared in the house from whoeverstood outside, and it was aimed atGary’s stomach through the open door.He stepped back just in time to avoid theblow.

"What have you done to mydaughter?" A pair of flashing grey eyesthat looked much like Hayely’s glared upat Gary.

Gary looked down at the shorter,stockier man on his doorstep. His visitorwas round-faced and determined as the

sunlight bounced off his nearly baldhead. He still had both of his reddenedhands clenched tightly at his sides, abunch of papers clutched in the one hehadn’t swung at Gary.

Gary hadn’t noticed the slenderwoman standing there next to herhusband at first. She was about the sameheight as her daughter, but seemed sothoroughly engrossed in the pavement ather feet that Gary couldn’t yet see thesimilarities in her face.

"Mr. and Mrs. Black," he saidwith confidence. "Come in."

"I most certainly will not,"Hayely’s father declared with a great

huff. "I’ve come to take my daughterback home with us and away from you—you, scoundrel!" he shouted and shookthe wad of papers in Gary’s face. "Iknow what you’ve done to her. I’ve readall about it."

Mrs. Black rushed in betweenthem when she saw Hayely emerge frombehind Gary. "Oh, my baby girl. Whathas this horrible man done to you? Youlook awful. Did he kidnap you and forceyou to sign that horrible document? Iknow he must have done somethingterrible for you to have signed it."

"It’s nothing better than slavelabor," Mr. Black roared. "We’ll seejustice done here. I don’t care who you

think you are, Gary Tarleton. You can’tbuy people."

Hayely’s mother touched herdaughter’s paint-globbed hair andlooked sadly at her ragged clothes."Look how thin she is. And her hair."Tears sprung to the woman’s eyes. "Shehasn’t been treated right at all. It wasjust as we feared. Come, Hayely. We’lltake you home with us right this minute."

Hayely pushed her mother’s handaway. "You don’t understand at all. Youhave no idea what you’re talking about. Itried to call." Her voice was softer thanshe wanted it to be, slipping back intothe genteel demeanor her father had

instilled in her.

Mr. Black pushed his way pastGary and shook the papers again. "Weunderstand everything. It’s all right herein this legal document."

Gary slammed the door shut andstartled them all. Drawing himself up tohis full height, he pointed to the livingroom and commanded, "Go in there andsit. Now."

For a moment Hayely thought hermother was going to faint on the spot andher father was going to take anotherswing at Gary’s midsection. "Let’s go sitdown," she soothed. "I’ll make us allsome coffee and we’ll work this out."

Gary strode into the living roomand took his seat. His rigid posture toldHayely he just might have reached hisalready short limit on politeness for theday. He actually seemed angry, and notjust because of the stolen documents.

"You can sit together there on thesofa. I picked out the furniture myself,"she said and then left the room to fetchthe coffee. Here it comes, she toldherself. The worst possible scenario Icould have imagined. At least there wasno doubt what Kathy Mark had donewith the stolen agreement.

When she set the coffee down infront of her parents and Gary, it wasobvious none of them had spoken a word

while she was out of the room. Gary hadrelaxed somewhat and now lookedpositively unruffled, slightly curious,and yet a bit hostile. Her mother ran herhand down the smooth fabric of the sofawhile her father’s face faded downthrough several lesser shades of red.

Hayely sat down in the chairnearest Gary. "You need to know that theperson who sent you that document is nofriend of mine. She did it just to causetrouble."

"Are you saying it’s a fake?" herfather questioned.

Hayely looked down. "No, it’sreal."

"Then pack your bags. We’retaking you out of here." He threatened tostand until Hayely gestured for him tosit.

"I’ll be moving out of here soonanyway. You read the agreement."

For a moment, Hayely lookedaround the room at her mother, then herfather and finally Gary. Each beat of herheart thudded in her ears. She could goback to the East Coast. She could goback to school and never have to workin an office as an executive assistantagain. She’d have the chance to meet thekind of man her family admired, the kindwho would marry her and become thefather of her children. All she had to do

was compromise. The time of reckoningwas at hand.

Then she saw the emotion swirland hazel colors flash in Gary’s eyes.His hands clenched tightly into fists. Hewas waiting to hear her answer with anintensity that made her heart thud evenlouder.

"I’m not leaving with you," shesaid firmly. Calmly.

"I don’t think I heard what I think Iheard," her father said.

She raised her chin and met herfather’s gaze. "I didn’t want it to be likethis. How did you get here so soon

anyway?"

"So soon," her mother sobbed."My only daughter has a wedding and ismarried half a year, and that’s too soonfor us to talk to her about it." She blewher nose into a pristine handkerchief.

"It wasn’t a wedding," Mr. Blackcorrected. "It was an entrance intoindentured servitude."

•

Gary leaned forward. She wasn’tleaving him. She’d given her answer, theone he’d wanted to ask her himself andhad stopped short of a dozen times in thepast two days. He’d told her before that

he didn’t let go of things he cared for.He meant to prove it now.

A hardened twinkle of amusementalso lurked in his eyes. He’d watchedhis new in-laws for several minutesnow, and it didn’t seem to him that theywere out to hurt Hayely—just theopposite. Only parents who really caredabout a child would jump on the firstplane, cross the United States and arrivehopping mad on his doorstep to rescueher.

Mrs. Black dabbed at her nose andsniffled loudly.

Gary sat back again, reached outto rest his hand on Hayely’s knee and

then thought the better of it.

"Why don’t you tell them whathappened? The whole truth of it," Garysuggested.

"Well," she started, "I waswalking across the parking lot with toomany packages and I ran into Gary." Shesipped her coffee and continued. "I meanI literally ran into him. And in theprocess, I obliterated a very expensivegift he’d just bought for his best friend,Charlie."

"That would account for thetwelve-thousand-dollar figure I read inthis contract with the devil," her fatherstated and slapped the papers against his

sturdy leg for emphasis.

"Yes. That was what it wasworth," she agreed quietly. "And Iwanted to do the honorable thing andrepay the debt, so I agreed to Gary’sterms. I wasn’t going to tell anyone, Iwas just going to set things right, do ashe asked and move on with my life."

Her mother turned white. "Hedidn’t force you to—to—did he?"

"Mother! He didn’t force me to doanything. It started out as a businessarrangement like I said, but then we—"She slammed down her coffee mug."Mom, I ended up feeling something,feelings that I shouldn’t feel. It isn’t

professional, I know. The six months isover, but when he kissed me—"

"I don’t believe it," Mr. Blacksputtered. "No man treats my daughterlike, like—I can’t even think of a wordfor it. And no decent father would let hisonly daughter throw away her life. Hellsbells. If you even stay on as hisemployee, we’ll disinherit you. That’swhat we’ll do. And we’ll turn yourshrine of a bedroom in a study."

Gary said curtly, "You don’t meanthat." He recognized a bluff when heheard it, but suspected Hayely was tooemotionally close to the situation tonotice.

The man shook his head inresignation, "No. I don’t. We’re justtrying to do right by our Hayely."

"Believe me, so am I," Gary said."There’s nothing more important to me."

Mr. Black looked at his new son-in-law with piqued interest. He was gladhe hadn’t been able to punch him at thefront door after all—his hand would stillbe hurting if he had. And now he thoughthe understood another meaning in Gary’ssimple sentence and earnest demeanor.He could see it in the man’s eyes. Couldit be that one of the wealthiest, mostwidely known men in the country hadfallen in love with his daughter?

"So ," Hayely continued with astronger voice. "We spent time togetherand we have similar values and ideas,plans… I don’t know how this will endfor us, but I need to be here to find out."

Mr. Black turned to Gary. "Youhave more money than all the gods onOlympus and could take your pick ofwomen. Why her?"

The two men looked at each otherin silent understanding.

"Thanks a lot, Dad," Hayelymurmured.

Gary shrugged. "At first? Becauseshe didn’t know who I was."

Mr. Black shook his round headfrom side to side and chuckled loudly."Now that I can believe. Our Hayelynever paid any attention to money."

"It’s wonderful, isn’t it?" Garysaid with a grin. "She looks straightthrough to the person and doesn’t evennotice his bankbook."

Mr. Black slapped his thigh andlaughed. "You should have seen how shereacted when we tried to get her to dateone of the boys down the road. She saidhe was a ‘stuck-up blueblood’ and kepthiding in the bathroom to avoid him. Asimple ‘no’ would have sufficed. I cantell you’re a good man, Tarleton. I won’tobject to her staying here if you make it

honorable."

Hayely had sat silent long enoughwhile everyone around her talked abouther as if she didn’t exist. They weretrying to make her decisions for heragain and finally the anger welled up inher. She stood up straight, nearlysloshing the coffee over the rim of hercup.

"You won’t object? Ha! I’m notgoing back with you," she declared,"partly because I’m sick of everyonetrying to protect me to death. I’m stayingin Nevada. And it was my decision."

Gary gave a little wink. "I mighthave a little something to do with it,

too."

Hayely’s father walked over to herand caught her up in his pudgy arms. Hewas more than sure of Gary’s intentionsby now. Anyone could see how much hetreasured Hayely.

"You mother always tells me I’mtoo abrupt, too brusque. I don’t mean tobe."

"You don’t?" Hayely asked herfather. She felt dazed, unsure she’d evenspoken.

"No. There’s a chance I wentoverboard trying to make sure you werehappy," her father added. "I shouldn’t

have worried."

Gary reached out, took her by thehand and gently pulled her down to restof the arm of his chair. "Don’t be tooangry with them. It’s just that they loveyou as much as I do."

Hayely breathed in and out quicklywhile her head still tried to wrap itselfaround what Gary had said. He lovedher? She loved him! She’d dancedaround the word for weeks and pressedit from her mind whenever it hadthreatened to surface there. She feltshivers through her body whenever helooked her way. With a touch he couldsoothe or ignite her. She loved hisfamily values, loved his gruffness, loved

the construction dust on his clothes …

Gary took her by the hands andlooked into her eyes. "Well? What doyou say we forget about the deal and thedivorce we’d have to get?"

She nodded. "Say it again."

"I fell in love with you and you’renot leaving me."

"I love you, too," she whispered.

Mrs. Black broke down fully intotears as she fully absorbed the truth."You know what this means, don’t you?I’ve missed my only daughter’swedding." Big wet tears rolled down

cheekbones that called Hayely’s own tomind.

Hayely turned to Gary. "Thenwe’ll have to create memories theyhaven’t missed. Babies. Celebrations ofanniversaries and old photo albumsfilled with our life together."

Gary placed his hands on herarms. "Look at me, Hayely. Look up atme. Let’s start now."

They all followed Gary as he wentstraight to the den, ran over to his desk,flung open the middle drawer and dugfuriously through the mass of papersstuffed inside. As last he grabbed thedocument he’d been looking for and held

it up high in triumph.

"Do you recognize this?"

Hayely looked at the six-monthcontract she’d signed in the parking lotso many weeks ago. The bright blue inkscrawled along the bottom wasunmistakable.

"It’s our agreement. I didn’t let thelawyer hold the original. I plan onkeeping the marriage certificate intactand legal if you’ll let me?"

Hayely nodded as if in a trance.

Gary caught the pages by theircorners and pulled. When the thick

cotton paper tore diagonally in half, hepicked up those pieces and shreddedthem again and again. Soon all thatremained was a pile of large confetti,which he swept with a great show ofdetermination into the wastebasket.

"And me without my camera,"Hayely said with a laugh that abruptlyfaded. She looked up at Gary and anexpression of sudden knowing cameupon her. She hopped up and down onceas her elegant fingers flew to her mouth.

"I know what I’m going to do," shebreathed out. "I’ve decided—for acareer, I mean." She tucked herchocolate-brown hair back behind herears in excitement.

Her mother waved a narrow handin the air. "It’s interior design, isn’t it?You’ve always had such good taste."

Gary struck out his chest and thatconfidently arrogant expression thatdrove Hayely crazy showed on his face."No. She’s going to be a chef. Run herown gourmet dessert shop. Cheesecakesand cream puffs."

"She can cook?" Hayely’s fatherasked in wonder. "When did thathappen?"

It was Hayely’s turn to be smug."I’m not doing either of those things. ButI’m not going to tell any of you

busybodies just yet. I’ve got a fewdetails to work out in my head first." Shesmiled so that it shined all the way intoher eyes. Finally, finally she knew whatshe wanted to do and she would haveGary at her side through every step.

Gary slid his arm around her waistand whispered, "You’ll tell me later,right?" All he got was a gentle elbow tothe ribs in response.

The clattering noise of shoes in themarble foyer stopped their conversation."Charlie has a key," Gary explained."We’re in the den," he yelled out.

Charlie nearly sprinted across thefloor, out of breath and visibly agitated

as he held on to Carla’s hand. She’dsmoothed down her spiky black hair intoa slick, short bob and it suited her. Withan awkward smile and seriousness inher eyes, she gave an ill-at-ease wave toHayely. Judging from the atmosphere ofthe room she’d just walked into, they’dstepped into the middle of somethingimportant and interrupted it but good. Infact everyone, even Gary, looked as ifthey had either just finished crying orwere about to start.

"You’re never going to believewhat Carla just heard," Charlieannounced, and then noticed Mr. andMrs. Black in the room.

"These are my parents," Hayely

introduced and wiped a remaining tearaway. "And this is Charlie, and hisgirlfriend, Carla."

Gary spoke directly to his friend,"Say whatever it is. They knoweverything now. We all finally do."

"That Mark woman has a copy ofyour agreement," Charlie announcedwith a high level of stress in his voice.

Gary took the wrinkled papersfrom Mr. Black’s hand and held them up."You mean these?"

Carla nodded. "It looked the same.She has a copy just like that."

Charlie stood behind his newgirlfriend and rubbed her shouldersnervously. "Tell them how you saw it.They won’t believe it."

Carla moved into the den to sitdown and everyone gathered into acircle, standing or sitting closely aroundher to catch every word.

"Well, I walked over to the mall toget one of those fruit smoothies forlunch. I was sitting at one of those littletables in the food court when I heardsomebody behind me say the nameTarleton. Pretty much caught myattention."

"Could you see who it was?"

Hayely asked.

"Oh, sure. From a foot or twoaway. When they were getting ready toleave, I stood up and walked past themto get a good look."

"Go on, Carla," Gary urged. "Whatelse did they say?"

Carla flushed red for a moment.She could hardly believe she was seeingthe inside of Gary Tarleton’s house,much less sitting on some plush furniturein the middle of his den.

She blinked widely a couple timesto collect herself. It was almost comicalthinking back at how she and her friends

had discussed Gary Tarleton all theseyears. They hadn’t known what theywere talking about.

Carla said at length, "It was awoman and some guy talking together.She looked totally out of place dressedup the way she was in the mall. To thehilt. She was telling the guy that shecould give him the biggest scoop of hiscareer. Then he said something that gaveme the idea he was from that trashy TVshow, you know, the one that gossipprogram?"

Gary nodded, "I know the one."

"That’s when I really started topay attention to him. Then the woman

said that you and Hayely hadn’t reallybeen married at all—not for realanyway. She said if he put a story aboutit on television tomorrow evening, shecould back it up for him. You know, shewould actually prove it when he tries togo for a follow-up story the next day.

"Of course, she’d be ananonymous source. She told him thatsince nobody wanted you, you’d goneout and bought yourself a bride. She saidsomething about you coming on to herdaughter or something and being refused.Then she talked about how Hayely wasan incompetent secretary who was goingto be fired, so she basically sold herbody to pay the bills."

Mr. Black’s face had resumed itsformer shade of scarlet. "Tell me whothis devil woman is."

Carla continued, "I’m pretty sureher name is Kathy Mark. She’s been inthe store a few times since the Chamberof Commerce Banquet. None of us likesher, so we don’t say anything, but she’salways trying to steer the conversationaround to Hayely. Never buys anythingeither. I saw her clear as day when I gotup and walked out of the food court. Shestayed for a little while after the reporterleft and was reading a document. Itlooked just like that one." She pointed tothe papers Gary had held up. "I couldeven see your names on it and the

lawyer’s letterhead."

"Which reporter was it, do youknow?" Gary asked.

"Sure. I’d know that guy’s voiceanywhere. Mel Reilly. His show comeson at eight."

"Do you think she ever showedhim the document or gave him a copy?"

Carla shook her head. "I don’tthink so. I mean, not from theirconversation and she only took out thepapers and started reading them afterhe’d gotten up and walked away."

"You’re wonderful, Carla. We

owe you one." Gary squeezed Hayely’shand. "I’m heading down to the TVstation."

"How do you plan on stoppingthem from airing such garbage?" Somuch had happened in the span of fifteenminutes that she was still trying to wrapher mind around it all.

Gary gave a crooked grin. "If youhad to choose between an exclusiveinterview with a man who never givesinterviews, or a shaky story that willpromise him a multi-million-dollardefamation of character suit, whichwould you choose?"

Charlie nodded enthusiastically.

"Good thinking. I think I’ll pay a visit toMs. Mark. Hey, did she ever send yourfinal paycheck? I shouldn’t have madethat comment to her at the banquet.Probably made her dig in her heels."

Hayely shook her head. "No,there’s been nothing in the mail. I calledand asked the payroll department whereit was, but didn’t get anywhere. Theywere really uncomfortable."

"That’s completely illegal." Mr.Black drew himself up to full stature."I’ll go along with this young man andwe’ll deal with that foul woman onceand for all."

Hayely looked around the room

and found that all the bravado tickledher. A few months ago, she was sure shewould have been frustrated and not just alittle angry with all these men jumping toher rescue.

The less mature, less secureHayely would have assumed they weretrying to control her and didn’t trust inher own strength. Sometimes I think youmistake acts of caring for disrespect.She sensed nothing but caring aroundher, and she also sensed Gary waiting tosee if she’d give her usual pricklyreaction or not.

"No," she said with a great deal ofcalm firmness. "I’m going down to K. L.Mark Enterprises and handling this

myself. All of it. I won’t get personal. Iwon’t tell her off. I’ll just get mypaycheck and let her know we’re awareshe has our stolen agreement."

"You sure you don’t needbackup?" Charlie asked.

"Thanks, but no. I need to do this.I’m closing one chapter and opening up anew one." She caught Gary’s gaze andheld it after he gave her a quick kiss."I’m going to change clothes and headover there right now. I’ll meet you all ateight o’clock in front of the TV."

Charlie smiled broadly as he tookin all the kissing and hand holding. "Soyou two finally admitted you’re in

love?"

Hayely’s dad answered, "You betyour bottom they have."

In spite of disastrous story thatthreatened them, Hayely had never beenhappier. She could hardly stand herselfshe was so filled with joy.

Chapter Ten

Hayely sped down the highway with thetop of her shiny silver car down to letthe golden rays of sunlight in. With hersmooth grey slacks, lightly wovenspringtime sweater the same shade ofred as the leather interior and hersunglasses with red lenses, it almost

looked as if she’d dressed to match thecar.

She tied a long light grey scarfaround her neck and laughed as the windtwirled it back across the seat. Thosetimes when she had felt so miserable?They hardly seemed worth rememberingnow that she had grown so far past thatemotion. She would have a real husbandin Gary and an amazing career plan inmind. She smiled to herself andwondered when she might decide to leteveryone else in on her ideas.

For months, whenever she’d goneshopping, she’d ended up designingoutfits of her own, giving her sketches toCarla, and then having the boutique’s

tailor actually sew the clothing for her.What she’d learned was not only that sheenjoyed the creative process, but shewas good at it!

Her taste in fabrics and colorswere always dead on, and her originalstyles were such that she couldn’t findsimilar in stores. And what was evenbetter—she could design the patterns athome while raising children andexperimenting in the kitchen. She’d evenbeen toying with the idea of hiring Carlaon to manage a new boutique filled withthe Hayely line—but she’d have to givethat and her brand name some morethought before saying anything.

Along with her husband andcareer, Hayely had also discovered anewfound confidence that just might lether stand up for herself with somemeasure of class. If she could handleKathy Mark with dignity, she was sureshe’d be able to withstand worse witheven greater grace from here on out. Shewas well on the way to understandingher father, too. She had only one morething to accomplish, and she’d have thatdone in only a few more anxiousminutes.

She turned her car into the bigparking lot, stepped out onto thepavement and bumped the door shut withher hip just for fun. She’d done that the

day she met Gary and it seemed fitting todo it again on the last day she’d everhave to make the long walk up to thatdreaded office.

With her grey leather bootsclicking along the pavement, she walkedwith her head held high past the finejewelry store, past the gift shop, past thedeli and pushed the button on theelevator. She was a woman going to theoffice with a mission—her own thistime.

When Hayely stepped into K. L.Mark’s reception area, the office fellsilent around her. Half the employeesshe saw in the background werecomplete strangers to her, but some

remained who recognized her and withthem the shock was instant and visible.There was also another new and veryfriendly receptionist to greet her, shenoticed.

And she had to admit, there werebutterflies zipping around inside herstomach so the receptionist’s warmsmile helped. Be strong, Hayely thought.Don’t shrink away this time. Stand firm.Have integrity, though. Don’t act likeher. No cussing and no yelling.

When she gave her name andasked for Kathy, the receptionistdutifully called back to her formerboss’s office, giving away the fact that

the woman was there. Hayely imaginedthat single action would cost thereceptionist her job. From the strickenlook on her face as she listened to thevoice on the other end of the line,Hayely would bet money on it.

"You can go back," thereceptionist whispered and fought tohold back tears. "I’ve never been calledthat name before."

Hayely quickly scribbled her cellphone number down on a notepad. "Ifyou wind up needing a new job, call mehere. I’ve been in your shoes and canhelp."

Kathy’s door was wide open when

Hayely approached it.

Kathy Mark sat behind her deskand observed Hayely with absolutehatred in her faded blue eyes. "What thehell do you want? Do I need to havesomeone escort you out of the building?"

"I came for my final paycheck,"Hayely said with more composure thanshe felt. She’d come this far—no time toturn back now. "By law, it was due tome weeks ago, and I understand it hasn’tbeen issued yet."

"Maybe it’s lost in the mail."Kathy gave a mean little smile andtapped her fingertips together in front ofher. Hayely remembered an article in

which Kathy had been described asruthless and how she had gloated aboutthat term for days. Did she actually takea reputation for hurting people as acompliment?

Hayely ignored her snide commentand continued with her mission. It wascoming easier with each sentence. "I’vespoken with Payroll several times now.If the check isn’t in my hands when Ileave here, I’ll be filing charges with theappropriate state agencies and takingyou to court." Her statement came outplainly, flatly—and just the way sheplanned it without her voice increasingeven a decibel.

"If that’s the way you want to play

it, sweetie."

Hayely fought the urge to throwsomething pointy at Kathy, but then pitytook over. With all the blessings she’dbeen given, it was hard for her toenvision how horrible it would be tolive in Kathy Mark’s position. All thewoman’s soul strove for was physicalappearance and dollar signs—there waslittle more to her and little goodnesscreated around her. She knew Kathybelieved she was to be envied, butHayely thought maybe when the womanwas alone at home during the eveningsthe sadness of her situation crept overher privately.

"That’s the way it will be, Kathy,"she countered softly. "I don’t want tohave to do that because a trial willexpose all your personal issues—Darrylor Dee’s personal issues to thecommunity. I don’t want to sink to thatand I hope you won’t force me to."

Kathy pounded her fist down onher desktop. "I will not have thisdiscussion," she bellowed. "You’ve hadproblems, too. Lots of problems in yourpast." Her eyes narrowed to slitsaccented by short pale lashes. Her facesuddenly looked old—very old and veryhard.

Hayely heard the hum of distantdiscussions stop and silence fall in the

carpeted halls outside Kathy’s office.She knew that just in the way peoplealways overheard Kathy mistreatingpeople, they were now overhearing thisconversation. And she recognized adesperate attempt to dig up dirt when sheheard it.

"Nice try. But, no—I haven’t hadany problems," Hayely said coolly andbrushed the ludicrous accusation aside."It’s also come to my attention that MelReilly may be airing a story of interest toyou tonight. You might want to watch it."

An uncertain flicker passed acrossKathy’s anger-contorted face. She pulledher teal tweed jacket tighter around

herself and crossed her legs.

Hayely continued in hushed tonesto avoid the office eavesdroppers, "Didyou know Gary’s lawyer’s office wasbroken into recently? Seems the onlything missing was a document of ours."

"Don’t you dare try to accuse meof anything. I’ll run you out of town on arail."

Hayely couldn’t even bring herselfto smile. She knew the rail constructionproject K. L. Mark had been involved inrecently had its funding turned down bythe local voters. Kathy’s words weresadly ironic and futile.

"I just wanted you to know that thelawyer filed a police report. Anyonefound with their hands on that documentwould run into some serious troublewith the law."

"This meeting is over." Kathymade a great show of trying to regainpower of the room. She stormed by andput her hand on the edge of the opendoor. Hayely remembered reading aboutjust that meeting-ending technique in asecond-rate manager’s manual, and thatknowledge made Kathy’s act seem allthe more impotent.

Hayely stood firmly where she hadbeen standing all along. "It would be ashame if anything in that document got

out—especially with so many people atthe mall having seen the woman whostole it sitting there in broad daylightreading it."

"Get out."

Hayely said very quietly, "I wantmy paycheck and all the copies of thatdocument. If memory serves, youprobably have them both in the filecabinet next to the window."

•

Hayely laughed and pounded herpalms against the steering wheel as shedrove back toward home. Her paycheckand what she suspected weren’t the only

copies of her marriage agreement satunder her purse on the floor beside her.

When she got home and walkedinto the kitchen, she found a note tellingher that Charlie and Carla had taken herparents out to dinner. What a relief thatshe didn’t have to cook that night! Shecouldn’t imagine a more unlikelyfoursome sharing dinner conversation,though. The idea of her father and free-spirited Carla debating current issuesactually made her laugh out loud. Thenanother thought hit her. Home. Thisreally was her home now.

With the house empty, she dartedupstairs and turned the gilded handlesthat released a stream of frothy water

into Gary’s round black bathtub, whichshe supposed was also hers to share.She’d have to get used to that thought—and bring in some new towels with "HT"stitched onto their ends.

It looked like Gary had finishedhanging pictures, and there was rarely aroom to be found in the house that wasn’tgraced with a portrait of the two of themtogether. He’d even put a framed pictureof them on the counter next to thesumptuous gold bath beads and whitefleur-de-lis shaped soaps.

When her bubble bath churned upmountains of white foam, she lit a candleand slid down inside the great marble

hollow. With a great sigh, she rested herhead back and let all of her caresevaporate into the steam.

"I’m always finding you like this,"Gary said softly from the doorway. Heheld the grey silk scarf she’d dropped onthe bedroom floor, and ran it through hisfingers. "I can’t wait for our company tobe gone."

"How did the big interview go?"she asked, her pulse pounding in herthroat as she caught his meaning. So he’dbeen in the house the day of the Banquetafter all. She sunk deeper into herbubblebath until she was hidden.

"Controlled the damage before it

even started," he murmured downagainst the back of her head. "How aboutyour visit with Ms. Trash-in-a-suit?"

Hayely couldn’t help but smile athis term for her former boss. "Got mypaycheck. And three photocopies of ourstolen agreement if you can believethat."

"Really? Now that I didn’texpect."

"Neither did I. I think you mighthave to hire another receptionist, though.I probably just cost one her job thismorning."

"We’ll have to talk about that

later." He bent to kiss her.

His touches were growing familiarto her, she realized. There was a comfortand a security in them now.

He set a damp and crumplednewspaper into her hands. "I think it willexplain a lot about why that woman wasbent on causing trouble." He pointed tothe business section.

"K. L. Mark Enterprises closeslocal offices." She didn’t know whetherto laugh outright or remain solemn anddignified.

Gary noticed her struggle. "I thinkit’s okay to step off the high road for just

a second."

Hayely kept smiling and read outloud, "Kathy Mark, owner of K. L. MarkEnterprises announced the pendingclosure of that company’s offices inNevada, citing a poor economy andpending relocation of its headquarters.Industry insiders believe recentallegations of falsified credentials andhigh staff turnover may be partially toblame. Following a series of lawsuitsfiled by former employees and clientsduring the past few months, K. L. MarkEnterprises has been unable to securepositions on subcontractor teams—"

"What did I tell you? Instantkarma." He smiled and kissed her sweet-

smelling hair again.

"You were right. I never doubtedit. But, you know, I felt sorry for hertoday. All I could see when I looked ather was a desperately insecure womanwhose lack of values is eating away ather. I wouldn’t trade her places foranything."

Gary grimaced. "Perish thethought."

She glanced up at the clock andpushed at him playfully. "We’re going tobe late. Look at the time. Out, out! I’vegot to get dressed."

She tied her blue robe around her

and when she opened the bedroom door,she could hear the sounds of the TVcoming through the surrounding speakersin the upstairs media room, and knewthat Charlie and Carla had alreadyarrived with her parents in tow.

"Come on!" She grabbed his handand pulled him willingly down the hallbehind her.

Charlie looked up as they ran intothe room. "You made it just in time." Hepointed the remote control at the screenjust as the introductory music faded.

"Look—there’s the little creepright now," Gary said as Mel Reilly’sface appeared on the screen. Gary sank

heavily with Hayely down into the cushyblack theater chairs she had arranged inshort lines in front of the big screen. Theway she’d lined things out, they’d beholding private movie screenings beforehe knew it. Was that a movie theaterpopcorn popper in the corner of theroom? He knew instinctively that it was.

Mel Reilly began, "Tonight we’repleased to bring you what no newsprogram has been able to bring youbefore—an exclusive interview withNevada’s very own self-made multi-millionaire, Gary Tarleton.

"We were shocked earlier todaywhen what we first deemed to be a verycredible source brought certain shady

allegations to this reporter regarding Mr.Tarleton’s marriage. We’ll addressthose allegations tonight in our featureinterview."

Segue music rolled through theroom. "I just hate the way he emphasizescertain words like some big conspiracyis happening," Carla said with a shake ofthe head and then they all fell silent.

The camera faded in to show Garyand Mel Reilly seated opposite oneanother in a pair of tacky yellow andorange patterned chairs. "Mr. Tarleton.Gary. You don’t mind if I call you Gary,do you? I just want to say what an honorit is to have you here with us."

"Thank you," the recorded Garyreplied with that firm, quiet look on hisface that said he’d already analyzed hisinterviewer and taken a dislike to him.

"I’ll get straight to the point," Melcontinued and leaned toward Gary withbeady eyes glinting in the hot, overlybright studio lighting. "We have beentold that you bought your wife in asordid business deal more than sixmonths ago and are no longer evenmarried at all. Is this true?"

"No." Gary rested his arms on thesides of his chair and looked confidentlyat his interviewer. Even seated, heseemed to tower over the other man.

Mel cleared his throat as helearned the hard way not to ask yes-noquestions of Gary Tarleton. "Can youexplain why these allegations have beenmade?"

"No."

Mel almost grimaced as henervously slicked back his heavilymoussed, greying hair with the palm ofhis hand. He’d done it again. "What Imean," he recovered, "is that I’d like youto explain to all our viewers out therewhat your current marital status is."

"I’m married," Gary answered andto Mel’s great relief, continued, "to awonderful woman named Hayely. I think

quite a few people had the chance tomeet her at the Chamber Banquet a whileback. It’s true that we married more thanhalf a year ago and we couldn’t behappier together."

"That’s wonderful news, Gary.I’m sure we’re all very happy for you.But what about these rumors that she’sjust another hired hand, so to speak?"

"I learned long ago never to listento rumors," Gary said darkly. "Theynever tell the whole story. The real truthof the matter is, I met Hayely and hiredher to do the interior design work on mynew house. We got to know each otherand fell in love."

"So there’s no truth to the rumorsthat Hayely is only an employee?"

"Nope."

"So how do you explain yourwedding? I understand it was impromptuat best. No friends, no family present towatch the two of you exchanges vows.How do you explain that, Gary?"

He shot the man a dark, seriouslook that made the reporter nervouslyclear his throat again. Then Gary pausedfor a moment before answering, "Mythoughtlessness. That’s how I wouldexplain it. That’s partially why I wantedto do this interview, to make anannouncement and redeem myself. I

didn’t give Hayely a chance to start ourmarriage with all the trimmings. Shedeserves so much more than what I gaveher. I can’t rewind time, but I think I canmake up for my impatience."

"Go on, tell us how," Mel almostpleaded. His panicked expression saidthat if Gary stopped talking, he wasafraid he couldn’t make him start again.

"I’d like to ask my bride to renewour wedding vows. We’ll do it in a bigchurch ceremony full of friends andfamily, if that’s what she wants. Thewhite dress and everything. Cake.Flowers galore. The works." He lookeddirectly into the camera with a twinklein his hazel eyes. "What do you think,

Hayely Tarleton? Marry me all overagain?"

Carla and Hayely’s mother let outa collective sigh and looked with mistyeyes at Hayely. There was even a tear ortwo lurking in her father’s eyes, thoughhe tried his best to look brave. It wasclear Gary had taken a potentially nastysituation and was walking away from itlooking like the most romantic hero intown.

As Mel did the wrap-up, the off-the-television Gary took the remotecontrol from Charlie’s fingers and turneddown the volume. He took Hayely’sslender hand in his own and asked,

"Well? Is that a yes?"

"What do you think?" sheanswered with a laugh.

"I think you’ll do." He suddenlylooked her up and down as if surveyingmerchandise before making a greatpurchase. He ran a hand through histousled brown hair and then across hischin, but there was no mistaking theamusement on his face this time.

She fought a smile, but her eyeshad already smoked over with emotion."I’ll do what?" She recalled all too welltheir first meeting and said a silentprayer of thanks. This time, she had notrouble meeting his gaze. In fact, she

wanted to spend the rest of her yearsdoing just that.

"Here’s the deal. I want a real,permanent wife. I want conversationsand plenty of questions. I’ll be requiringfriendship and silver-eyed children—and more pot roast while I’m at it. Not tomention a companion for the honeymoonto Pompeii I’ve just booked."

Hayely tucked her hair backbehind her ear and whispered with asmile, "Well then, Mr. Tarleton, Isuppose I’ll—I do."

• • •

Table of ContentsA WIFE BY ACCIDENT 2For inspirations. 2Chapter One 2Chapter Two 2Chapter Three 2Chapter Four 2Chapter Five 2Chapter Six 2Chapter Seven 2Chapter Eight 2Chapter Nine 2

Chapter Ten 2